Printing

[Mickw]

Its an age old problem but here goes.
I have a beautifull LG HD 24inch screen. I got Photoshop CS4 and Photomatix Pro and got my pictures looking great. Thats great on screen. All are set up as 16bit files in Adobe RGB 1998. Go to a local printer (three printers actually) and all my prints come out looking dark. No matter where i print, they are dark. Got the screen calibrated. Still dark but better. So to get total control over my prints i need help.

Firstly, anyone recommend a good printer. I want top quality up to A3. I do mono and colour industrial/landscape stuff. Epson R2880 / R1900 look good. Anyone use them?
Next, im buying my own monitor calibrator. Whats a good quality calibrator? Spyder Pro looks good.
Next, Any suggestions about setting up CS4/Epson in the software of photoshop colour settings?
Finally. Ive got an excellent book by a top photographer called Adobe Photoshop for Photographers by Martin Evening. Its excellent and there is a suggestion that might help. If i buy the printer paper for the printer from this supplier, he will send me a colour file to print. I print it, send it back, he runs it through his spectromitor and sends me back a profile. A good idea?

Anyway, any help would be most gratefull. Ive got some good stuff but im stuck as i cant print it!!

Mick

[KeithB]

Here is the Luminous Landscapes take on the 4800:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/4800-1st.shtml

In general, that website has a lot of good stuff on fine-art photo printing, might be overkill for you, but then again...