color matching monitor and printer

[adsmith82]

I am trying to print some photos taken with a digital camera for my mother. When they print though they don't look as good on paper as they do on screen. The printer is a Canon i850s. Is there a way to color match my screen with my printer?

Thanks.

[scottbergerphoto]

I am trying to print some photos taken with a digital camera for my mother. When they print though they don't look as good on paper as they do on screen. The printer is a Canon i850s. Is there a way to color match my screen with my printer?

Thanks.Welcome to the world of Color Management. It can be pretty confusing till you play with it and pull your hair out over it for a while.
You need to start by :
1. Calibrate your monitor using Adobe Gamma, located in the Windows XP Control Panel if you have PS CS, or PSE installed. Be sure to save the profile you create as your default monitor profile. For a more accurate profile you need a hardware/software calibration package like Colorvision's Spyder/Optical.
2. Follow the documentation in your printer's manual on how to select the proper settings for your paper/ink selection. Stick with your manufacturer's ink and paper for these profiles to work.

That's a start. If you follow the above steps, your prints should look pretty much like your monitor. Once you have that down and are ready for more, post another question.:)
Regards,
Scott