Damien Symonds

Oh, that's unfortunate. I guess just copy and flip (and slightly squish) the other side.

I'm here all the time. You'll find the calibrator instructions here.

Wonderful. And these are the instructions you're following?

Chantel, you have to read EVERY.SINGLE.WORD of EVERY.SINGLE.PAGE on the troubleshooter. You are skimming, and that's why you're getting confused.

That's ok. It's a standalone desktop monitor, not a laptop?

By clicking the appropriate blue button at the bottom of the page!!!!!! Either the one that says "Yes, mine already looked like that" or "Mine didn't look like that, but I've changed them now".

I just went to your FB page and checked that photo for you. It doesn't look great, but it doesn't look anywhere near as bad as your new screen is showing, I promise. While you're waiting for your calibrator to arrive, make sure you gather some prints from your pro lab. You'll need those to check the calibration.

Calm down. All we can do today is get your colour space right. Your viewing problems will be solved when the Spyder arrives. Be patient. And for heaven's sake don't do any editing until the calibrator arrives.

Darn it Chantel, just press the button and keep going. All will be explained, I promise.

Excellent. Click the relevant blue button at the bottom and keep going.

Forgive me if you're already told us this, I couldn't see it - what screen do you have, exactly?

Can you show me a screenshot of which page in the troubleshooter you're up to?

But if I were to ask you the same question at night time, you'd put "colder" in that blank space? (Just making sure I've got all this straight in my head)

On screen, you mean? We need to simplify this as much as possible. Complete this sentence: "The lighter tones of the photos are _____________ (warmer/colder) on screen than the prints"

I know they are. This is really really bad. Follow the troubleshooter all the way to its conclusion.

This. Brian says you should always aim for 1/3rd free space. And this. Run CleanMyMac pronto.

The monitor sounds fine. It should serve you well into the future.

No, I can't in good conscience recommend an out-of-date device. Go for the Spyder5.

NEVER have I said to use Adobe RGB. And no, your camera setting is completely irrelevant when you shoot raw. You DO shoot raw, I trust?

Are you aware that these are rather dark, especially the third one? And in daylight? How do the prints and screen compare?

You are right - you won't. http://www.damiensymonds.net/art_tscs000.html

No, this is a big fat myth. This HAS to be your priority now. http://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html

This area. This is where the blacks aren't black enough.

Can't you just whistle?

Yes, it's still not black around the hair, especially that tallest part. If you move your mouse around while watching the Info Panel, you'll see the numbers are about 25/25/25 instead of 0/0/0 where they should be. Keep painting on the mask of the Levels layer.