Adobe RGB vs SRGB

This gets really confusing. I was reading a book today that says you should set your digital camera to Adobe RGB to get the most color...sounds good to me! However, most places you send your photos to for prints want SRGB. Is it best to capture in Adobe RGB, then convert to SRGB in photoshop?

John

Adobe is a wider color space, so you're keeping more info from the original capture. You can always convert down to a smaller color space like sRGB and end up with basically the same thing you would had you started with sRGB. But you can't convert sRGB up to Adobe and gain back the lost info. So I always like to start with the most info possible for my master file and then reduce it down to sRGB or 8 bit if necessary for a given output. If you shoot in RAW, you don't have to decide on the color space right away. Lightroom now uses ProPhotoRGB, which is a wider space than Adobe, so I now use this. If you only use sRGB, then it should be fine to convert directly to sRGB. But you may find other uses for your photos that require output to CMYK or AdobeRGB. So I think its always safest start with the widest color space. Ultimately, though, you won't see a big difference by starting out with different color spaces.

The camera setting only affects the jpeg images produced by the camera. If you shoot raw, which I recommend, you can choose any color space you want. Like Grant, I process my raw files into images in the ProPhotoRGB space. Most mid to high end digital cameras that produce raw files have the ability to capture colors that are outside of the AdobeRGB space and well outside of sRGB. So to get the most from the image and have the most latitude when processing, I use ProPhotoRGB.
sRGB is a good common denominator and represents what most monitors can show. So for web display, converting from ProPhotoRGB to sRGB is recommended. However, many pro level inkjet printers have gamuts larger than AdobeRGB so printing from ProPhotoRGB can lead to better prints.
Color spaces and color management can be just a little confusing.

To answer your question: If you are only shooting jpeg, capture in the AdobeRGB space (you're telling your camera how to process its raw file) and convert to sRGB for those outputs that want it (web, lab printer, etc). If you capture raw files either process into AdobeRGB or consider ProPhotoRGB.
Be aware there are some drawbacks/dangers to using a super-wide color space like ProPhotoRGB.

Thanks Kalin and Grant. I did read about some possible drawbacks of ProPhotoRGB. I have my camera set for both RAW and jpeg so I think for the heck of it, I'll se the camera for adobeRGB for a while and see what that does for me. Of courese then I'll have to remember to convert to sRGB for web...sheesh! I have another book on print and color management and it totally confuses me. I just know I want my colors to be as accurate as possible whether it's on the monitor, inkjet prints or prints from a lab. I never realized there were sooo many different profiles and color spaces.

John, also check that you are using Adobe RGB as your color space in Photoshop if not ProPhotorgb. As for resetting back to srgb for the web, check to see what happens when you save as a jpeg for web purposes...do not believe that you have to reset to srgb.

Bill Brennan

Bill, I've been using sRGB in photoshop so I guess I need to change that to AdobeRGB, huh.

You do need to convert to sRGB before posting to the web. Also, is your monitor calibrated and are you soft-proofing for printing? Those are the most important things for getting accurate colors in prints. Soft-proofing isn't as important for RGB prints, but it's a must for CMYK prints.

learn something new all the time I never knew the purpose of Adobe RGB until now. Are there any print shops that will take Adobe RGB

White House Custom Color wants Adobe RGB files (JPG, quality level 10).

If you'd like an opinionated, but valid, point of view, do a search on www.shootsmarter.com. The color space one uses really depends on the desired end-use. Printers (both personal and professional) and the Web browsers like and expect sRGB. Offset printers like CMYK. Graphic artists prefer Adobe RGB or ProPhotoRGB. Or, as suggested, shoot RAW and do whatever conversion you need later. Personally, I use RAW for the "good stuff" and sRGB for routine snapshots.

Ken

John, think of it this way: you paid good money for a camera that can capture a lot of image information. By using JPG and sRGB you are literally throwing away most of it. A good point-and-shoot can probably satisfy most casual shooter's needs but I suspect you want better quality so that you have as many possible uses for your images as you can. Don't forfeit your future possibilities. You never know what you may want to do with your files in the future.

Labs that require you to convert to sRGB are lazy labs (or labs trying to cut on cost and labor). High end pro labs will either give you their own calibrated profiles to convert your file to, or ask you to send the image in your working profile so they can handle the conversion professionally themselves (see West Coast Imaging, Calypso Imaging etc.)

Guy