Saving for web from CS4

I have found that since I've been using CS4 I am having trouble getting images posted to the web to keep their color without getting dulled out. Anyone else having this problem? Suggestions? (I can't find preferences for saving the jpegs for the web in sRGB from aRGB)

Thanks

Marcy

Marcy,

After you process the image and flatten it, but before you sharpen, go to Edit>Convert to Profile. Choose sRGB. You can then use Save for Web.

-P

My preference is to change the color profile as the first step in post-processing. As Preston notes, Edit -> Convert to Profile and select sRGB. If you don't do it first, you may find the conversion alters colors enough to force you to go through the exercise again. See generally, my article from back in April 2008.

I have never found that convert to profile changes the colors. When I just change the profile it definitely does but when I use the convert to profile option in CS4 to convert it from AdobeRGB to sRGB I've never noticed any change in colors.

Thanks to all of you who offered suggestions and directions. I really appreciate the help, and after following your suggestions I was able to convert the profiles easily to sRGB.Thanks!!

Jim - I like the idea of doing it first and I also checked out your article. How's things in Fairbanks? I spend a couple months up there every year working as a fire/aircraft dispatcher - mainly on assignments for Alaska DNR but also have gone on assignments all over AK for Alaska Fire Service (BLM).

Thanks again for the assistance,

Marcy Ugstad

I have noticed a very slight change in color upon conversion in a very small number of instances. It has not been a significant issue for web posting.

Marcy, one thing I neglected to mention in terms of workflow... Make a duplicate of your original, processed file; flatten and convert the duplicate to sRGB, resize, sharpen. and then use Save for the Web. That way, you'll have your full resolution image in Adobe RGB, with all layers intact, for printing or other uses.

-P

Thanks, Preston! Appreciate your helpful suggestions!!

Marcy

I too have been wondering this because sRGB looked fine when I processed them via CS1 but when I started using 4 recently, the images lose their punch.

I've never trusted "save for the web". I make the adjustments to the photo for sizing, sharpening, and the sRGB as described above, then I "save as" and select JPG as the format. You can then control the compression to your liking, not relying on presets in the wizard they provide. When you are happy with the results, use that jpg file for your web applications. It's usually in the compression setting that you lose punch and detail.

Unless Adobe has made a change, "Save for Web" also strips off the metadata.

Thanks to Richard, Wick and Fred for your comments - I appreciate the feedback!

Marcy