Need Some More Help With the Color of my Photos?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have had a terrible realization that the color on my macbook is very off. My old laptop seemed to be pretty correct when I compared it to the prints I made. But this laptop shows things so much darker and warmer than they actually are, so while a photo looks normal on my laptop it actually looks very blue cast and overexposed in reality. Could you guys tell me which of these looks most normal to you?

This on my laptop, looks exactly how I would normally edit a photo. Not too warm, not too cool, and not blown out.

And this version on my laptop looks way too warm, and too dark. I'm attempting to compensate based on the discrepancies I've noticed...

I'm really upset at this point... because I've sent out a client session that I edited on this computer and now I'm really worried that the photos were way too overexposed and blue cast. I just don't know what to do... suggestions? It's really really hard to edit the photo to the right point when you hate the way the final result looks. If it looks way to warm and dark... how can I know exactly where to edit the photo to?

Does this make sense?

Also, because I take my photos in raw, the photos aren't okay to just be used straight out of camera. So I do need to edit them..

[BG and Gavin]

I know nothing, but to my eye the first shot looks more natural looking where the second one looks more obviously fooled with.  But both look nice.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree. The second is definitely warmer but I don't think it's too dark.

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Have you tried color-calibration using the OSX utilities?

If not, here is an article that might help:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1151706/calibrateyourmonitor.html

Here's one with more detail:

http://www.computer-darkroom.com/colorsync-display/colorsync_1.htm

[F, Calla & Luca]

We have had some info. here in this group on color calibration but I have never gotten around to it. But if you are sending out photos professionally I am sure it's important.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Humor me and trying saving your images to 2880x1800 at 221pixels per inch. This is the native resolution of the retina display for macbook pro I think. If I am understanding your problem It may be the retina display of your new laptop that is throwing you off. Had same issue with my iPad .

[Camilla and Darwin]

My laptop doesn't have the retina display, it's the 2012 model that is just before the retina display version

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Hmmm...then I got nothin'...sorry.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Camilla, I will PM you my DD's e-mail. She may have some tips, too. I just had her tell me the stuff I edited was too blue. I definitely prefer the first photo.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Laurie can you send to me too please? Thanks!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yes, I will :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

I do know that a hardware calibrator would fix the problem, but they are around 100 dollars and I'd like to avoid buying one if I can, seeing as I just went over budget a bit getting this. However, if I can't fix it by fooling with settings or something else I may have to just do it. Hmmm.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

What about calling a local Apple store. Many of them have free (I think) classes and someone may be able to help you there.