Colours change in Photoshop
Discussion
this has always happened, but now it's to a much larger degree...
When I open photos in photoshop, the colour is very different to when I view them in another program - Extensis Portfolio/Mail/IE whatever. It is mainly that they are A LOT more saturated - why would this be? Especially for sending to other people that do not have photoshop, or for putting on the web, I would like to have a good idea of what everyone else will be seeing.
Im using Mac OSX.
When I open photos in photoshop, the colour is very different to when I view them in another program - Extensis Portfolio/Mail/IE whatever. It is mainly that they are A LOT more saturated - why would this be? Especially for sending to other people that do not have photoshop, or for putting on the web, I would like to have a good idea of what everyone else will be seeing.
Im using Mac OSX.
What workspace are you using in Photoshop? Check that you're not converting the photos from one space to another which can cause colours to shift.
For normal web use, you're probably best converting your images to sRGB, as this regarded as the best colour space for non-calibrated systems, and should give the most consistent results on other PCs.
For normal web use, you're probably best converting your images to sRGB, as this regarded as the best colour space for non-calibrated systems, and should give the most consistent results on other PCs.
What did you do to calibrate the monitor? Have you got Adobe Gamma running on startup? It may be worth disabling it and seeing if you get the same results.
Also, it may be worth double-checking Photoshop's colour settings to make sure nothing funny is set in there.
As far as I know, Photoshop just uses the monitor profile set in the O/S, so I'm confused as to why you're getting different colours there compared to other apps.
One thing that I thought of is that other apps will not understand colour profiles, but Photoshop obviously does. Have you tried converting a test image to various different profiles within PS to see if you get a match with what you see with the same image in another app?
Also, it may be worth double-checking Photoshop's colour settings to make sure nothing funny is set in there.
As far as I know, Photoshop just uses the monitor profile set in the O/S, so I'm confused as to why you're getting different colours there compared to other apps.
One thing that I thought of is that other apps will not understand colour profiles, but Photoshop obviously does. Have you tried converting a test image to various different profiles within PS to see if you get a match with what you see with the same image in another app?
OK, I have found the problem. I have a custom monitor profile in my OS settings, which is what all the applications use. PS, however, is set to use sRGB as the working space, so when I open files in it they are effectively not using the space that I have made for my monitor. I am a bit unsure as to what I should do now. According to what I know about profiling I think I should,
Change the working space in PS to my calibrated profile, and edit files like this. Then when I save the files they should be converted back into sRGB so that other people can see them correctly. Is this the right way of going about it?
PS, got my Gretag calibrator coming later this week, so will have to redo everything after that anyway. But the principle is still the same.
Change the working space in PS to my calibrated profile, and edit files like this. Then when I save the files they should be converted back into sRGB so that other people can see them correctly. Is this the right way of going about it?
PS, got my Gretag calibrator coming later this week, so will have to redo everything after that anyway. But the principle is still the same.
As far as I know, that shouldn't make any difference.
As far as I know (and it's probably a bit like the blind leading the blind with this
), but you shouldn't set your working space to your monitor profile, as the image is displayed via the monitor profile on the fly anyway.
My monitor is calibrated and profiled, and although I'm using Windows XP, the concept is pretty much the same. My monitor is set to use the custom profile in the O/S settings, and I use Adobe RGB as my working space in Photoshop.
>> Edited by ehasler on Monday 3rd May 22:01
As far as I know (and it's probably a bit like the blind leading the blind with this
), but you shouldn't set your working space to your monitor profile, as the image is displayed via the monitor profile on the fly anyway. My monitor is calibrated and profiled, and although I'm using Windows XP, the concept is pretty much the same. My monitor is set to use the custom profile in the O/S settings, and I use Adobe RGB as my working space in Photoshop.
>> Edited by ehasler on Monday 3rd May 22:01
Well, I've, errr, actually read the first book - but that's where I got my understanding from, and it doesn't seem to be helping me now... You should definately know what's going on though from that other book! I'll ask next time I'm in Calumet or somewhere like that.
Could just be that I have made a wacky monitor profile and it's throwing everything else off a bit.
Could just be that I have made a wacky monitor profile and it's throwing everything else off a bit.
dcw@pr said:
You should definately know what's going on though from that other book!
Err... yes...
It made sense at the time, but I think I need to re-read it again for it to sink in.
Actually, your problem just doesn't make sense from what I read in the book, but a wacky monitor profile sounds like the most likely culprit. Doing a proper job with the GretagMacbeth hardware/software should sort this out though.
Moving the topic on slightly - I am curious (and impatient) about how my Gretag will work. I assume it plugs in via USB, then you run a program which makes the screen show a vareity of colours, which are measured by the colourimeter which you hang in front of it. Then what - does it adjust the screen itself? Or do you have to do it manually?
If it's anything like my Optical Spyder thing (which it should be, as they all work in a similar way), then you will need to do the following:
1) Adjust monitor settings to suggested levels (e.g., set Brightness to 0, contrast to 100%, colour temp etc...)
2) Stick colourimeter to the screen where the software tells you to
3) The software will then flash different colours at the screen and you may be asked to adjust settings on the monitor (e.g., RGB controls, brighness, contrast) to get the screen set to the correct settings.
4) Once the software is happy that the screen is calibrated as best it can be, it will then build the profile by flashing various different colours at the colourimeter and from this it builds the profile which is then assigned to the monitor.
If it's anything like my system, the software tells you what to do each step of the way, and it is all very straightforward.
One useful bit of advice is to do this in the dark, as external light can effect the readings that the device takes. Some people even say that you should wear dark clothing to reduce the light reflected back onto the screen, but this may be taking things a bit too far!
1) Adjust monitor settings to suggested levels (e.g., set Brightness to 0, contrast to 100%, colour temp etc...)
2) Stick colourimeter to the screen where the software tells you to
3) The software will then flash different colours at the screen and you may be asked to adjust settings on the monitor (e.g., RGB controls, brighness, contrast) to get the screen set to the correct settings.
4) Once the software is happy that the screen is calibrated as best it can be, it will then build the profile by flashing various different colours at the colourimeter and from this it builds the profile which is then assigned to the monitor.
If it's anything like my system, the software tells you what to do each step of the way, and it is all very straightforward.
One useful bit of advice is to do this in the dark, as external light can effect the readings that the device takes. Some people even say that you should wear dark clothing to reduce the light reflected back onto the screen, but this may be taking things a bit too far!
Oh - one more thing. The colourimeters usually come with sucker pads to stick them to the front of CRT screens, however these must not be used on LCD screens as they will damage the coating. LCD compatible devices usually have a method of hanging them over the front of the LCD screen and using their own weight to hold them down.
I thought that too, but having read the book I mentioned previously, I can understand why you should calibrate and profile without any extra light to influence the results.
The various light sources in the room can cause colours to look different on screen, especially if the conditions change (e.g., sunlight beaming straight onto the monitor, or reflecting off coloured walls, and the temperature of the light).
One of the reasons for calibrating and profiling a monitor is to get consistent and stable colour reproduction, and the best way to ensure this is to have as little influencing the measurements as possible.
The various light sources in the room can cause colours to look different on screen, especially if the conditions change (e.g., sunlight beaming straight onto the monitor, or reflecting off coloured walls, and the temperature of the light).
One of the reasons for calibrating and profiling a monitor is to get consistent and stable colour reproduction, and the best way to ensure this is to have as little influencing the measurements as possible.
Update - got the Eye-One monitor calibrator. To cut a long story short, everything seems to be working as it should now, and the colour between my LCD and CRT are close to being matched (at least for whitepoint, which is what matters in general use to me).
I am sure there was something funny going on before with the profiling that wasn't just due to a dodgy monitor setup, but since it works OK now I'm not too bothered.
I am sure there was something funny going on before with the profiling that wasn't just due to a dodgy monitor setup, but since it works OK now I'm not too bothered.
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