Months of work up the shoot!

[Alan Fairhurst]

Hi gang. I hope someone can make me feel better! My old computer, (on which I've done all my photo work), is an iConnect running Windows ME. The photos always look good. Many have been posted in the forums, and they print out great.
I recently purchased a new computer with Windows XP. Then I viewed my photos, using Paint Shop Pro. Boy! am I dispondent! I have a "Flat Screen" monitor on the new PC which seems a bit bright. But the photos look TOO bright and pixilated! Even the print preview does not show the photos as they actually print out.
Should I throw my NEW PC in the bin, scrap ALL my photos, or - give up photography?

[robbie-doux]

Don't ever give up! your photo's are amazing! They always look superb on my screen!

It must be the screen - Krazy Pengwin is probably your guy (heaven knows I'm not)

Can you not run your old screen on your new pooter?

[Alan Fairhurst]

Can you not run your old screen on your new pooter?

Thanks for your support Robbie. Unfortunately, my old screen won't connect to the new PC; new technology and all that, new PC's have flat screens. I think I was a bit ambitious with the neW PC and bought a 19" screen. But I have to say, so far I hate Windows XP!

[robbie-doux]

Is there an independent computer shop near you? In Alsager (South Cheshire) we have a really good guy (Dark Haven), he's a whizz at sorting out problems - He's always been really good, and if I have any probelsm now I go straight there.

Chin up.

[StuG]

Alan check your resolution, when I got my flat screen I had to go up from 1024 x 768 to 1280 x 1024 otherwise everything looked pixelated. The draw back is until you get used to the new resolution you won't be able to read anything on the forum :grin:

just read your post again, go start/settings/taskbar ans start menu then click the start menu tab and click 'classic start menu' and windows XP will look just like your old windows version.

[Chris Hawkins]

As soon as I read your post - I thought 'resolution'. I reckon Stu has got it spot on. LCD's need to be at their native resolution to perform properly; alas they rarely come set at this. As Stu says for a 19inch LCD this will be 1280 x 1024.

Cheers Chris.

[Krazy Pengwin]

Sorry, been out all day and I've only just seen this.

Stu and Chris are probably right. Check the resolution is set to the native resolution of the monitor. For a 19 inch, I would expect this to be 1280 x 1024, or possible higher. Unfortunatley, flat screens don't really like working at non-native resolutions too well.

Other than what has already been said, I can't really offer any other advice apart from calibrate the monitor as well. I believe Martin is lending out his Spyder for monitor calibration.

[bartonflyer]

Alan,

The guys so far are quite right, check the settings on the graphics card on your new computer, it is probably just outputting it's defaults - this needs to be matched up with what the new display is capable of doing - also you do need to calibrate the monitor on the new machine - I'm a PSP user and there is an option to do this where you squint at various coloured bars & adjust the settings accordingly - I think PhotoShop has similar functions - If you are stuck I'd be more than happy to assist - drop me a PM (least I can do after your kind comments on my web site!!)

Cheers
Ian

[Alan Fairhurst]

Thanks to you all. That looks much better:). By the way Robbie, we live quite close to each other. I live in Crewe.

[robbie-doux]

Hi Alan,
Glad your screen is looking right now - Why do computers always do what they find logical, rather than what humane find logical?
I saw the Cheshire location, but didn't realise we were so close - Jimothy is in Crewe too, I think!