When I open up an image in photoshop it has posterized or whatever you call it. But if I transfer the same image to the web before doing any processing it is fine. I can't figure it out.
The second image is just a screen capture as soon as I open the particular image in photoshop with nothing done to it. #2
I have tried opening other images and I have the same problem, I think I changed a setting in photoshop some how without realizing it.
Need help.
Thanks
Jody
Posted by Todd Caudle on April 6, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I notice a little asterisk up on the tab, which implies the image is not on your default rgb color space. Is CS4 set up for Adobe RGB (1998) to be your default rgb color space, but it's opening as something else? Other than that, I got nothin'.
Posted by Phillip Noll on April 6, 2009 at 2:12 PM
If your scan is a "raw" scan (i.e., linear) then you would need to assign the color profile for that particular scanner (for linear scans) to the image when you open it in Photoshop. Otherwise the colors will be off.
If you scan is non-linear, does the scanner embed a color profile? When you open the file in photoshop do you get a dialog box telling you that the file's color space does not match the working color space?
It sure looks like its a color profile mismatch problem. Let us know if you get the profile mismatch dialog box when you open the file--that will help in diagnosing the problem.
Jody, as Todd mentions above, the * next to RGB in the image title indicates that this image is not in your default working space. Check your color settings and verify that Adobe RGB is your default working space for RGB images.
It most likely is not or your image is not an Adobe RGB image.
I have changed the working space to RGB but it still doesn't explain the differences when I open it up in Photoshop versus Paint etc. Photoshop is the only place it looks bad.???? I have even tried assigning profiles. The main issue is the lower third of the screen where it posterizes.
Posted by Phillip Noll on April 6, 2009 at 10:55 PM
This sounds like the image is being improperly opened in Photoshop, with ICC profile tags discarded or changed due to incorrect preference settings.
What are your color settings in Photoshop? I usually have the following:
Working Spaces:
RGB = ProPhoto RGB or Adobe RGB (1998) (which ever you prefer)
CMYK = default (I don't work in CMYK) (U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2)
Gray = default (Dot Gain 20%)
Spot = default (Dot Gain 20%)
Profile Mismatches: Ask When Opening
Missing Profiles: Ask When Opening
Conversion Options:
Engine = Adobe (ACE)
Intent = Perceptual
Use black point compensation is checked
Use Dither (8-bit/channel images) is checked
Advanced Controls:
Desaturate Monitor is UNchecked
Blend RGB colors using Gamma is UNchecked
Do you have anything different than these? The default "Intent" is Relative Colorimetric but (according to Blatner and Frasier) typically, Perceptual is better for scanned images. They also say that Relative Colorimetric might do a better job if your image does not have a lot of out-of-gamut colors. Try them both and see if it makes any difference.
I also "Preserve Embedded Profiles" when opening an image. This tells Photoshop to keep the embedded profile and treat the file as a tagged image in the embedded profile's color space. It also uses this profile for any conversions done later. If you have Photoshop set up to "discard the embedded profile" or "ignore the embedded profile" you can get some bizarre results (off colors and posterization). If you preserve the embedded profile you can always change it later using Edit > Conver To Profile.
Don't know if this helps but its all I can come up with at the moment. I'll sleep on it and see if anything else gels in my gelatinous brain!
Good luck!
Posted by Craig Schultz on April 8, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Jody, if you could post a screen capture of your PS color settings window and info palette that shows the color profile of the open image it may help track this down.
The only other thing that currently comes to mind is your monitor calibration. If PS is your only color managed application, then it would be the only one showing weird results of a bad monitor profile. When did you last update your monitor profile?
Discussion
9 repliesWhen I open up an image in photoshop it has posterized or whatever you call it. But if I transfer the same image to the web before doing any processing it is fine. I can't figure it out.
This is my raw scan, with nothing done to it.
#1
The second image is just a screen capture as soon as I open the particular image in photoshop with nothing done to it.
#2
I have tried opening other images and I have the same problem, I think I changed a setting in photoshop some how without realizing it.
Need help.
Thanks
Jody
If you scan is non-linear, does the scanner embed a color profile? When you open the file in photoshop do you get a dialog box telling you that the file's color space does not match the working color space?
It sure looks like its a color profile mismatch problem. Let us know if you get the profile mismatch dialog box when you open the file--that will help in diagnosing the problem.
It most likely is not or your image is not an Adobe RGB image.
Do you have Photoshop set to ask you what to do in case of a color space conflict? Perhaps it got changed by accident.
Hope you get this figured out.
What are your color settings in Photoshop? I usually have the following:
Working Spaces:
RGB = ProPhoto RGB or Adobe RGB (1998) (which ever you prefer)
CMYK = default (I don't work in CMYK) (U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2)
Gray = default (Dot Gain 20%)
Spot = default (Dot Gain 20%)
Color Management Policies:
RGB = Preserve Embedded Profiles
CMYK = Preserve Embedded Profiles
Gray = Preserve Embedded Profiles
Profile Mismatches: Ask When Opening
Missing Profiles: Ask When Opening
Conversion Options:
Engine = Adobe (ACE)
Intent = Perceptual
Use black point compensation is checked
Use Dither (8-bit/channel images) is checked
Advanced Controls:
Desaturate Monitor is UNchecked
Blend RGB colors using Gamma is UNchecked
Do you have anything different than these? The default "Intent" is Relative Colorimetric but (according to Blatner and Frasier) typically, Perceptual is better for scanned images. They also say that Relative Colorimetric might do a better job if your image does not have a lot of out-of-gamut colors. Try them both and see if it makes any difference.
I also "Preserve Embedded Profiles" when opening an image. This tells Photoshop to keep the embedded profile and treat the file as a tagged image in the embedded profile's color space. It also uses this profile for any conversions done later. If you have Photoshop set up to "discard the embedded profile" or "ignore the embedded profile" you can get some bizarre results (off colors and posterization). If you preserve the embedded profile you can always change it later using Edit > Conver To Profile.
Don't know if this helps but its all I can come up with at the moment. I'll sleep on it and see if anything else gels in my gelatinous brain!
Good luck!
The only other thing that currently comes to mind is your monitor calibration. If PS is your only color managed application, then it would be the only one showing weird results of a bad monitor profile. When did you last update your monitor profile?