Hello. I've recently obtained a new monitor and I'm trying to calibrate it as best as I can. So really this is a two part question. :) Firstly, how do you calibrate your monitor, especially if you're a college student with little to no money. I've been using "calibration" images to get everything set up as best I can, but I'm wondering if the color cast of my monitor is off a bit, can't really tell. Right now I have the colors set to 6500K and the contrast/brightness are all the way up because I don't lose any information (black is black and there is detail in bright white spots -- according to the calibration images I've come across)

Secondly, I have re-posted a photo that was reported to be quite dark. Hopefully some of you can take a look at this photo and tell me what you think of it, contrast and color wise.

This is how I would describe it. The tree in the foreground should be very dark, but the outer third of the tree has well defined green leaves. The steam approaches white, but still has a gray level to is as the picture was taken early in the morning. And the background is about the same as the foreground, just a little brighter.

http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Infopage&image=andermic-1223340312.jpg

Thanks!

Michael: normally I would not reply, but you seem to be tring, and I like that quality in a person. So I am going to try and help you. About the screen calibration thing.....what a pain in the -zz it is. Screen calibration is supposed to bring your monitor in close to a standardized color. Probably the same color calibration Wallmart uses to print photos. What is the best way to calibrate a screen? You can buy a Huey and have it done automatically or just type in "monitor calibration" in GOOGLE search and presto, you will find many free sites that will get you standardised. I looked at your picture and yes the trees were very dark and the stream approaches white. Yep! its all there but its to dark on my screen, which by the way has been calibrated only last weekend, using one of those free sites. Its simple enough to say the picture has too much contrast. That makes it kinda hard on the eyes. I have no doubt you will be presenting us with much more easy on the eyes work. Keep on trying.