Originally posted by jack002 I have heard of a thing called a calibrated monitor. I don't have one, but I know the laptop monitor is quite dull compared to others, so I'd try to use a monitor you trust before making any changes.
I've used a ColorMunki Smile to calibrate all of my computers/monitors and it has reduced my frustration considerably. Now, when I print or have a photo printed, the results are indistinguishable from what was represented on the monitor.
Re PP: I usually sharpen a bit and even the lighting; reduce bright areas and lighten dark areas. Sometimes I add saturation and/or tweak individual colors. I usually try to achieve what I perceived when taking the photo.