[tzekin]

Hi,
calibrating your monitor without hardware is tricky bussines. First as a start always set the contrast to max. And the brightness to whatever is needed for a proper calibration. If you're a mac user I would suggest you use the monitor control panel or the Adobe Gamma that comes with photoshop. I prefer the old Gamma control panel that came with Photoshop 3,4 to 5 I think. If you're a Win user ask someone else.

[6 hen 2 kids & a red]

Yes, pc. Thanks anyway.

[quaternius]

Since I do a lot of final prints for client presentation I've tried a lot of different things and don't think there's a perfect solution that exists.
However, what I'm doing now is simply using the Adobe calibration through Photoshop. On my systems this seems to get me close enough on my different computers to keep me and my clients happy. Close enough for government work I guess...

Having said this, I've noticed different monitors have obviously different color casts even with the same exact temperature settings and calibration work and video cards. Go figure.

As I recall, Loki has some pretty strong opinions on this subject and I'm sure has spent more time on it than me.
http://www.vigilante.net/~loki/pages/frameset1.htm

[EviLToYLeT]

CAlibration is a bitch. Here's a link to help you

Also, make sure your photoshop is calibrated with the same color as your windows... select that in the options otherwise. well you know the color turns out different

[6 hen 2 kids & a red]

Is there a unvirsial agreement on monitor brightness/ contrast? How do I know I'm not way off? My image in the finished forum is much darker on my work monitor that the way it looked at home. yuck

[Lunatique]

Without getting into the nitty gritty, I use the most basic tried and true method(according to me):

Have your contrast at 100%
Have your brightness at 75%

Hope that helps.

[6 hen 2 kids & a red]

Thanks guys, that helped.