OT: Color Space Info for non-Raw files in Lightroom?
Discussion
2 replies
Posted by Phillip Noll on November 25, 2009 at 4:39 PM
When working on a non-raw image in Photoshop, I have the color space and bit depth displayed at the bottom left of the image window. I find it handy to be able to see the color space info quickly.
However, in Lightroom, I can't seem to find color space info for any non-raw images? The ICC Profile of a file is not displayed with the other Metadata in the Library module. I understand that Lightroom uses ProPhoto as its working space and that I can specify Adobe RGB, sRGB, or ProPhoro RGB in the Export dialog, but some of my non-raw images are in various other color spaces and I would like to be able to see what color space an image is in without having to open it in PS.
Is there any way to find out the color space (profile) of an image in Lightroom? Something like a "File Info" menu item (as in PS) or some other command or view option?
Any of you Lightroom gurus know the answer? Thanks!
Posted by Nat Coalson on November 25, 2009 at 5:35 PM
My first question in response to your question is, why does it matter?
In Lightroom, all embedded profiles in rendered files are respected and any untagged images are treated as sRGB.
All processing within Lightroom will use Lightroom's internal color space (called Melissa RGB) while also preserving the embedded profile in the original image.
The only time specific color space choices matter in Lightroom is when you're choosing one during export.
All that being said, to your original question, I don't know that there is any way in Lightroom to show what profile is embedded in a selected non-raw file. It's all part of Adobe's intention to handle color management at the application level and in this case, if there's a profile embedded, LR will use it. If not, it's sRGB.
Posted by Phillip Noll on November 25, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Thanks for the reply, Nat!
It doesn't matter in terms of how Lightroom does its thing. I understand that LR respects embedded profiles and uses ProPhoto as a working space (or Melissa RGB, which is a "virtual color space" based upon ProPhoto RGB). That's all fine.
I just think it would be nice if, while in LR, I could look up the ICC Profile that my image is tagged with. My eyes are still pretty good but I can't tell the profile just by looking at the image!
Seriously though, I had a recent example using Photomatix where I thought my exports were in ProPhoto but they were in Adobe RGB and I didn't catch it until I loaded a file from LR into PS (edit original option) and got the profile mismatch dialog. I was a bit surprised! And bummed! I now have to re-do 100s of exposure blends to get them in the right color space. (I know--operator error!)
LR already has to determine what profile (if any) a rendered image is tagged with so I think it would be a nice feature (and minimal programming) if that info could be displayed with the rest of the metadata. Most people won't care or even notice that it is there but I would like to have this info on occasion and its a pain to have to open the image in PS just to see what profile is embedded. Especially since I now use LR as my "base of operations" for all image editing.
Many of my scanned film images are in scanner-specific profiles and some of those have been converted to Adobe RGB and some to ProPhoto RGB. I may have several copies of one image with different profiles. Having access to the ICC Profile from within LR would save me some steps and I would be able to tell at a glance which image I need to then open in PS.
Discussion
2 repliesHowever, in Lightroom, I can't seem to find color space info for any non-raw images?
Is there any way to find out the color space (profile) of an image in Lightroom? Something like a "File Info" menu item (as in PS) or some other command or view option?
Any of you Lightroom gurus know the answer? Thanks!
In Lightroom, all embedded profiles in rendered files are respected and any untagged images are treated as sRGB.
All processing within Lightroom will use Lightroom's internal color space (called Melissa RGB) while also preserving the embedded profile in the original image.
The only time specific color space choices matter in Lightroom is when you're choosing one during export.
All that being said, to your original question, I don't know that there is any way in Lightroom to show what profile is embedded in a selected non-raw file. It's all part of Adobe's intention to handle color management at the application level and in this case, if there's a profile embedded, LR will use it. If not, it's sRGB.
It doesn't matter in terms of how Lightroom does its thing. I understand that LR respects embedded profiles and uses ProPhoto as a working space (or Melissa RGB, which is a "virtual color space" based upon ProPhoto RGB). That's all fine.
I just think it would be nice if, while in LR, I could look up the ICC Profile that my image is tagged with. My eyes are still pretty good but I can't tell the profile just by looking at the image!
Seriously though, I had a recent example using Photomatix where I thought my exports were in ProPhoto but they were in Adobe RGB and I didn't catch it until I loaded a file from LR into PS (edit original option) and got the profile mismatch dialog. I was a bit surprised!
LR already has to determine what profile (if any) a rendered image is tagged with so I think it would be a nice feature (and minimal programming) if that info could be displayed with the rest of the metadata. Most people won't care or even notice that it is there but I would like to have this info on occasion and its a pain to have to open the image in PS just to see what profile is embedded. Especially since I now use LR as my "base of operations" for all image editing.
Many of my scanned film images are in scanner-specific profiles and some of those have been converted to Adobe RGB and some to ProPhoto RGB. I may have several copies of one image with different profiles. Having access to the ICC Profile from within LR would save me some steps and I would be able to tell at a glance which image I need to then open in PS.