Photoshop/CS2 Mavens, maybe you can explain this for me…?

[GeneL]

Well, I've now watched the suggested tutorials.

Unfortunately, the information given was so specific only to printers other than my Canon ip8500 and the presumed knowledge was so over my head that I was left more confused than ever.

I'm still stuck in the dark

While it seems that a most important first step requires that I obtain some sort of calibration device, that will have to wait for me to pay down my credit cards.

In the meantime, it's clear that what I need are basic step by step instructions for calibrating my monitor using the available software solutions. No one has explained how to do this so that I don't make "double settings," a problem that was mentioned earlier.

Can anyone break down the steps for calibrating my monitor and then for making the appropriate settings for my Canon printer? It must be clear enough so that a dummy like me can do it?

This has been most frustrating because I just don't have the basic steps needed to make my printing setup work properly.

Your help will be appreciated beyond words.

Thanks,

GeneL