Prints dark, yet look good on monitor

It doesn't happen every time I print photos, but I do get pictures that look signicantly darker when I print than when I view them on my LCD
monitor. One time I tried brightening one of these darker pictures in Photoshop, but the resulting print was still too dark. The colors for the most part appear to be accurate. Would monitor calibration help this, or do I have a different problem?

I'd think monitor calibration would be a good place to start. And then think about printer profiles for the particular printer and paper that you're using. It can make a surprising difference.

cheers
Bill

I have the same problem. Everytime I take my images to the lab to be printed, the shadow areas which have heaps of detail on my monitor come out jet black. Very frustrating... I need to calibrate.

Have a read in the link from my sig...

Thanks to all who responded.

Rene: are you referring to the post on color management? I did not read it yet, but I ask because my colors seem to be accurate, but I seem to be having an intermittent problem with the brightness.

iterrier wrote in post #3252342
Thanks to all who responded.

Rene: are you referring to the post on color management? I did not read it yet, but I ask because my colors seem to be accurate, but I seem to be having an intermittent problem with the brightness.

How do you know your colors are accurate if you are not calibrated?

In2Photos wrote in post #3252583
How do you know your colors are accurate if you are not calibrated?

Because the colors on my monitor are the same as on my good prints.

If the problem isn't constant, I'd imagine you are not doing things the same every time?

What prints appear dark, what prints don't? What are the differences?
What are your printer settings? What software/hardware?

How do you know your monitor is displaying correctly, and it's not the printer that is 'right'?

iterrier wrote in post #3252595
Because the colors on my monitor are the same as on my good prints.

Just because it matches a print doesn't mean it is accurate. Do you start with a print or with the image on the screen? Then you need to make sure the first part of your process is correct. Once your screen is correct you can then start using printer profiles to get your prints correct.

Thanks to all. I guess I will have to start thinking about calibration. Any suggestions of good products, versus the ones to avoid?

iterrier wrote in post #3252690
Thanks to all. I guess I will have to start thinking about calibration. Any suggestions of good products, versus the ones to avoid?

Are you using a single monitor or dual monitors? Ever plan on going to duals? Does the ambient light change in your room with your editing computer?

There are lots of threads regarding the Spyder vs. the Huey which are the two most popular units. There are also more expensive units that allow you a lot more control and have better software.

First, LCDs aren't recommended vs a CRT?

Got PS? Start with Adobe Gamma that comes with it & see if it will work for you.

How do you calibrate your monitor?
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=196318
Monitor Calibration
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=158158

Dry Creek Photo: Using Printer Profiles with Digital Labs
http://drycreekphoto.c​om …sing_printer_pr​ofiles.htm
"The easiest way to install a profile in Windows XP is to right click on the profile in Windows Explorer and select "install profile". Windows copies the profile to the correct directory automatically."
Important note: If you are replacing a profile in Windows XP, the above shortcut does not work. The profiles must be manually copied to the correct directory for the original profile to be replaced.

Really confused about color space
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=119140