I just read through this thread and I'm scratching my head...  I don't see any place where you mention the model of your NEC monitor.  It raises some questions for me-- Is this NEC monitor a wide gamut type that the Spyder2 Express simply can't handle? Why use a cheap obsolete calibration device like the Spyder2 Express, when NEC has the excellent Spectraview II system available? The Spyder2 Express was an adequate basic calibration tool back when the majority of us still used CRTs, but the new Spyder3 devices are designed to handle the newer LCDs, both wide and normal gamut.  Datacolor claims that the Spyder3 hardware is 83% more accurate than the Spyder2.

One more question... How did you calibrate "Sharpness" with a Spyder2 Express?

Mike, My apologies...  I knew this story sounded familiar and I realized later that you also had a conversation going over at the POTN forum.  I think you received more "Color Management" advice there, but very few of the CM regulars there use Qimage for printing. Glad you got it sorted out.