Calibration - is this usual?

[Carlj]

Right, have the Gretag Macbeth huey colorimeter. Have it on calibrate and ambient adjust - but shots still appear dark.

So, searched for a colour checker chart. Found one, printed it and looked at the screen/printout - the screen was dull, dark and colours seemed to lack any vibrancy. Hit the uncorrected option, and the screen matched the printout - not dark at all!!

So, is calibration the answer? Or just download a colour chart and check visually?

[Mick]

Dunno much about this calibrating stuff.

I thought that calibrating your monitor was just so you see your pics the way everyone else does on screen (assuming everyone else has their monitor calibrated).  And then adjust printer output as required.