Posted by Ron Richins on April 20, 2009 at 1:55 PM
I just recently purchased a monitor calibrator. Normally I process files in ProPhotoRGB in Photoshop. Then, when I prepare the files for posting to NPN, I convert them to sRGB. After doing this, the sRGB colors in a web browser match up fairly well with the ProPhotoRGB colors in PS. Unfortunately, this is not the case since using the calibrator--colors are now significantly different. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there something I need to do differently? It seems to me that if this is common, this would make online critiquing of files useless, since what we’re seeing really isn’t what’s processed in PS.
Posted by David Bostedo on April 20, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Ron - Unfortunately, the goal of calibrating a monitor is to set the color to a known and accurate standard. It's not to make your images appear like they will on the web and on other monitors. When compressing from the ProPhotoRGB color space down to the sRGB space, certain colors may change more than others. Some people do a little touching up to get things looking good again. Also, how do you convert from one colorspace to the other? What options are set?
It could be, though, that your calibration is off. Do you make prints? And do the prints match your screen?
Calibration issues are sometimes difficult to figure out. I have had problems in the past using ProPhoto and converting to sRGB for web posting. I might suggest that you ensure that the PS working space matches your image color space.
I have also found that if I use a color space of Adobe RGB in PS and convert the image to Adobe RGB for editing it works better. So, I process images in Light Room in ProPhoto and saving them this way. Then when importing to CS4 (or CS3) I convert the image to the working space of Adobe RGB. After this, if I will convert for web posting I will convert to sRGB and use "Save for Web". This has eliminated my issues.
Don't ask me why this has made a difference; I just know it has.
BTW, Adobe RGB is sufficient for printing today, so editing in PS using this color space is OK. However, in case future printers have a wider color space I save the Light Room instructions for the RAW files as ProPhoto.
Your monitor cannot display all of the color gamut of ProPhoto and, with the exception of Firefox, no Web browser supports color management.
This combination almost guarantees a difference in the colors that you're seeing.
Posted by Ron Richins on April 20, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Thanks for the comments.
David, I've been converting by using the "Convert to Profile" command. Black Point Compensation & Dither are both checked. I'm going to be making some prints soon.
Ed, thanks for the tip. I'll experiment with AdobeRGB conversions.
Discussion
4 repliesIt could be, though, that your calibration is off. Do you make prints? And do the prints match your screen?
I have also found that if I use a color space of Adobe RGB in PS and convert the image to Adobe RGB for editing it works better. So, I process images in Light Room in ProPhoto and saving them this way. Then when importing to CS4 (or CS3) I convert the image to the working space of Adobe RGB. After this, if I will convert for web posting I will convert to sRGB and use "Save for Web". This has eliminated my issues.
Don't ask me why this has made a difference; I just know it has.
BTW, Adobe RGB is sufficient for printing today, so editing in PS using this color space is OK. However, in case future printers have a wider color space I save the Light Room instructions for the RAW files as ProPhoto.
Hope this helps.
This combination almost guarantees a difference in the colors that you're seeing.
David, I've been converting by using the "Convert to Profile" command. Black Point Compensation & Dither are both checked. I'm going to be making some prints soon.
Ed, thanks for the tip. I'll experiment with AdobeRGB conversions.