Few questions on D. processing

First of all is there a good way to calibrate your computer monitor. Sometimes the image looks good on my computer but when I take it in for processing the picture may be a little too dark/light. Just not what I was seeing on my monitor. Anybody have any suggestions on calibrating your monitor?

2nd, does anybody know/use any online processing. Just looking for prices, quality, etc. I used shutterfly the other day because I had some free picture credits from when I bought my camera. I was happy with what I got back, I just was curious what others do for processing.

Thanks all

For now I use adobes Gamma you can find it in the control panel. I sue that same profile with my printer & it comes out pretty close. There is many choices on the market to choose from but if you're taking the pics to a printer they can tweak it also.

Never used online printer, I usually go to Sams Club

If you really want to calibrate (and profile) your monitor correctly, you should use a device like a Colorvision Spyder or a GretagMacbeth Eye One (I'm using a Spyder). You put the device on your screen, run the software that comes with it - it measures how your monitor displays colours and creates an ICC profile that describes the characteristics of your monitor, so that colour management aware software such as Photoshop knows how to display colours correctly on your monitor.

I was also using Adobe Gamma, which is a little program that you get with Photoshop that allows you to create an ICC profile "by eye", but I've found that the profile created with the Spyder is much better than what I made with Adobe Gamma.

I agree with Jesper. I use the Spyder Pro/Optical package. I'm very happy with how close my prints match my monitor. It helps to have ICC profiles for your printer. Epson supplies them free of charge.
Scott