Why images on disk darker than in camera?

A fair amount of the time Frybo its the monitor settings and not the camera, monitors have a default setting which is generally darker than digital cameras, PITB if you ask me, Gamma settings or Colour Profiles, can usually correct this in images but can then leave your normal viewing setting a bit astray or too light. This app can help in the monitor settings department http://www.majorgeeks.com/QuickGamma_d4380.html ( set gamma to 2.2 for windows )

I tend to print a few test images and adjust the contrast/light/dark once I have what I think is a good print, write down the setting and use that as a default... most of the time prints need a bit of editing, be that red-eye removal, cropping etc

best option I use is one of three....

1. Using your favoured graphics app, print a picture and see what it looks like.. if it prints ok... leave the settings, if not you should if the camera allows most canons do, to set the exposure level differently, I have read +2/3is about right for PC monitors to camera LCD matching.. or try a few settings out, its all good fun and practice

2. If you use Adobe Photoshop then use the Gamma Calibration tool, to set your monitor up and then test print a picture.

3. If you use a local printers do they have a digital mini-lab machine with an ICC colour profile they can put on cd for you to add to Photopshop or other GFX software that uses ICC profiles ( some home printers also allow ICC profiles to be saved ) this way you get consistant images printed by them, but most digital mini-labs if the operators are worth their salt, have already colour balanced the machine to manufacturers default and most if not all digital cameras will produce good prints from them ( especially Fuji Frontier machines )