Prints too dark - help!

[julieh]

I used the PhotoBlast Midnight Color action on a picture that I took recently and it looked absolutely gorgeous on my monitor! I had it printed this weekend and the print is WAY too dark and looks much darker than what I saw on my monitor. Does this mean my monitor is not calibrated correctly or what do I need to do? Granted, I usually print my pictures online through WalMart so maybe that is part of the problem but I always liked their matte finish. I am now using a Canon S3 IS and the prints don't look as sharp as they did with my old Kodak point and shoot so maybe I just need to find a new way to print or a different finish in general. Thanks for any help!!!!

[mamakimberly]

I'd calibrate your monitor before assuming it is the photo itself---- sometimes these monitors of ours get really off!

If you use Adobe you should have adobe gamma in your control panel-- run that and see if it helps!

I use the DST page as an example to see if I need to go recalibrate-- on the home page it should be a cranberry--- mine goes HOT PINK and I know I need to recalibrate. I have to do it once/week or so!

[Kim2002]

Yep - I would also think that the monitor needs calibrating. If you always use the same printer, then it shouldn't be too hard. I usually use MPIX or Walmart and don't see much difference in the lightness/darkness. But when I first starting printing, I found that I had to calibrate my monitor as the prints were darker than what I saw on my monitor. It took a few tries, but once I got it right, I haven't had any problems since. **knock on wood**

[meggan]

How are other images that you had printed at the same time coming out compared to your monitor? Have you noticed this issue on other images, or just this print? If you are consistently seeing images come back in print that are off compared to your monitor, you likely have a monitor issue. If it's something that seems to be one in a few that comes back dark, or one batch comes back dark and another batch comes back fine, then it could just be wher you get them printed.

[julieh]

OK, thank you for all the help! I tried calibrating my monitor last night but have no idea what I am doing! And the DST home page was always looking bright pink no matter what I did - I couldn't get it to be cranberry. I notice this darkness issue on other prints so I know it is not specific to this one picture - it is definitely likely a monitor issue. Any "calibrating a monitor for dummies" tips? I'll try to attach the picture in question - it is a dark picture in general but on my monitor it looks great with the action. On the print it is so dark that you really only see her face and arm and everything else are just indistinguishable shades of dark. Darn, I can't figure out how to get the picture into this message - any advice on that? Sorry, I am still new to all this! Thank you soooo much!!!

[mamakimberly]

I'm freshly calibrated if you want to email me the pic at gesweinfamily AT gmail DOT com :)