laptop and printer calibrate

[newby]

hi how are you? i am a photographer and have been getting another photographer print my photos. i have decided that i sold enough to buy my own printer. the man i was getting to print them is gone away and cannot get a hold of him. sooo....... i have been told that i should calibrate both the lap top and the printer. As well i have been told i only have to do my lap top. was just wondering what i should do before i actually spend the money . which should i do? i do know that the lap top and printer do not match in color. thank you. have a super day!

[Damien Symonds]

Hi @newby, I urge you to abandon this idea.  Printing your own photos is a really bad idea.

• It's expensive - not only to buy the printer and the materials, but also the VERY expensive calibrator you need to make your screen and prints match.  Not to mention all the wasted money in all the mistakes you'll make while setting up.
• It's damn frustrating (because of the mistakes I just mentioned).

Just do what all sensible photographers do.  Find yourself a good lab.

That way, you'll only need to buy a calibrator that does screens.  The screen-only ones are MUCH cheaper than the screen-and-printer ones.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html

http://www.damiensymonds.net/lab-reviews