To calibrate or not to calibrate that is the question?

[Sassie]

I'm just about to embark on a project where I'm putting my photos through the PSE treatment for the first time. My question is: do I need to calibrate my monitor before I begin if I'm planning to upload the tweaked photos to an online printing lab - or would I just need to calibrate if I were printing on my own printer? I don't want to go to all the time and expense if the end photos don't resemble my editing work.

Thanks,
Sassie

[baycruisers]

Last weekend I used Huey Pro to calibrate my new Samsung 205BW monitor. I swear I could see very little difference between the "before" and "after." But that may have just been luck. I wouldn't let that stop you from doing it. Others have reported significant color shifts on their monitors that were corrected by calibration. I just didn't happen to--this time.

[GaryK]

Hi Sassie

Most do notice a difference when using one of the calibration tools. That is not to say you will.

Why not just send a couple of photos to your online place and see how they look?
If they look good to you then you just saved a hundred dollars.:)

[TonyW]

Like Gary says I think I would try printing a few first and if you aren't happy with the result then the next step would be to try calibrating your monitor. Calibrating your monitor doesn't effect printing directly. What it does do is attempt to make sure that the tweaks you make are real ones and not ones to correct the appearance on your monitor. So for example if your monitor was set too blue and you adjusted the image to get rid of the blue then your print will look worse than if you'd done no tweaking.

Tony