Dull prints!!! Help please

Hi people, i have a little problem and was wondering if any one can help. Im currently putting pictures together for a gallery and portfolio so printed quite a few recently. My printer isnt that great (hp psc 1317 all in one) so im not expecting much but i also sent them all to truprint aswell. Both have come out far darker than expected. Ive posted a couple of the pictures. In the Ben Lomond shot the foreground detail is there, its not as bright as the background but should be fine. In the prints they have come out dark with little visible detail, and the same goes for the bridge. I know the foreground is dark but its printing almost like a black sillohette.

So my question is two fold. 1) Is there anyway to optimise my printer to get a better result? (im printing on glossy photopaper) and 2) Are there any other online printers that are reasonably priced and could print good these kind of shots keeping the detail?

Thanks for ant responses and all hellp appreciated.
Adrian

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They're really both very dark on my calibrated Dell 2005FPW, especially the one of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. I don't know what you were aiming for, but if you look at the histogram, you'll see that there's very little above the mid tones.

Is your monitor calibrated? If not, that's where you need to start.


What I've done to this version is maybe a bit vicious (I'm seeing quite a bit of what I think is JPEG artifacting) - but it's three very quick adjustment layers, one over the other (layers, curves then brightness/contrast). I believe it looks better on my calibrated monitor.

David

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I'm with David - the pics look dark on my monitor (CRT, at work so it's not calibrated).

Ok guys, thats probably it then. Ill have a go at calibrating my monitor and see what i get.

Thanks alot

I look at your work and saw David's took at shot at it.
http://i23.photobucket​.com …uspension-bridge2C-PS.jpg

I adjusted the level (bump up the midtone)and boosted the colors w/ channel mixer

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Thanx for reminding me to check my PM box. I don't check it much. A reply was send.