Inspiring

Question

Lightroom and Photoshop Color Mismatch

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
August 27, 2021
7 replies
5671 views

My photos do not match from lightroom and photshop depending on how the photos are exported out of lightroom. If I export from lightroom directly into photoshop, the images do not match. If I export from lightroom to my hard drive and then open that jpeg image in photoshop, the color of the two programs matches. Here is my frustration: this is the 3rd time this has happened to me. It happens every time there is a lightroom and photoshop update. For some reason my photoshop is auto updating, but my lightroom doesn't auto update. Not realizing this, I go about editing photos in lightroom to only notice that they do not match when exported into photoshop. For the last 2 photoshop updates, updating lightroom to the latest version made the two programs match; however, the color totally changes in all of my lightroom edits for all edits in the catalog (and now matches photoshop). Regardless of the temporary mismatch between applications, it isn't ok that with each lightroom update my colors are completely changing in my lightroom edits. Color should stay consistent in lightroom from version to version. Again this has only happened to me on the last 3 updates.

I have been told previously that this is a color profile issue. I have checked that. I have made sure that the Color Management monitor profile " sRGB IEC61966-2.1 " with "Use my settings" checked is assigned to default. I have relaunched the Adobe applications. This does not correct the mismatch.

I am not using any custom profiles in Lightroom. I do not own any. I use Adobe Color on my edits.

I found this post here, that seems similar to my issue, but honestly, I'm having a hard time following what the end solution was to see if it would also fix my issue. https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/lightroom-amp-photoshop-color-doesn-t-match-same-color-workspace/m-p/12217448#M570197

Here is my info on my system:

Windows 10

PS 22.5

LRC 10.3 (I know that the latest is 10.4; however, I would like to figure out what is causing this issue since I know that updating to 10.4 is going to completely change my color edits in lightroom for the 3rd time)

No profiles installed; Use Adobe Color

Color Management Profile set to sRGB IEC61966-2.1 with Use my settings checked

Thank you for your help! Photos attached.

Windows

This topic has been closed for replies.

GoldingD

Legend

Ok, now a final experiment, unless a oh wow moment occurs

Comparing internal ACR in LrC to plugin ACR used by PS

In LrC, select a RAW file, export it to TIFF, or PSD (depending on your default for PS), set WB as desired
In PS, open the same RAW file (skipping LrC Edit in). Set WB same as in LrC.
As a what if? In both cases, LrC, and OS, what profile was applied?Same?
Compare

inquiry, compare develop module preview, correct? not Library

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beb03Author

Inspiring

Ok, bear with me, I never open raw files directly into PS (its not my normal workflow), so I do have a few questions.

As a what if? In both cases, LrC, and OS, what profile was applied?Same?

Adobe Color is applied in both programs.

In LrC, select a RAW file, export it to TIFF, or PSD (depending on your default for PS), set WB as desired
In PS, open the same RAW file (skipping LrC Edit in). Set WB same as in LrC.

I set a WB of the ARW RAW image and saved it as a tiff file. Opened it in PS, and it matched the WB adjustment made in LrC. The images look the same.

I then opened that same RAW file in PS. It automatially pulled up ACR. I set the WB to the same value that I set in LrC. The images DO NOT look the same between ACR and LrC. I then clicked "Open" at the bottom of ACR and got this error message. I'm not even sure what I should choose here. I chose "convert to working space" and the two images colors are still NOT the same.

GoldingD

Legend

In PS, bring up the Color Settings Dialog box, share a screenshot of it

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/color-settings/

GoldingD

Legend

So, this has gotten very long, hence easy to overlook if the following has been tried as a diagnostic.

First a simple experiment in LrC involving exporting, but keeping PS out of the mix, little steps.

In LrC, export a photo to either TIFF (or PSD)
Compare the RAW to the TIFF

Then an experiment, continuing on to PS but with ACR out of the mix

Open the export in PS, Camera RAW should not enter in.
Compare the TIFF in LrC to the TIFF in PS

note/question, what sort of image would be best, perhaps a RAW shot of a color card?

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beb03Author

Inspiring

I don't have a color card, so I can't do that experiment for you, otherwise I would. However, the difference in color of the images is obvious.

"First a simple experiment in LrC involving exporting, but keeping PS out of the mix, little steps

In LrC, export a photo to either TIFF (or PSD)
Compare the RAW to the TIFF"

Exported from LrC a SOOC ARW file in the TIFF format. I then imported the TIFF back into lighroom and compared the two files. No difference.

"Then an experiment, continuing on to PS but with ACR out of the mix

Open the export in PS, Camera RAW should not enter in.
Compare the TIFF in LrC to the TIFF in PS"

Opened the TIFF file in PS (circumventing ACR), no difference between the TIFF in LrC vs. PS.

I can do the same thing with a PSD file exported from lightroom and also there is no difference. Something is likely happening with ACR. I only see this difference when choosing "edit in photoshop." And only on ARW files. If the ARW file is coverted to a dng, "edit in photoshop" doesn't produce a color difference. And if I choose "edit in photoshop" of a Canon CR2 file, there is no difference.

Again, appreciate the troubleshooting help.

This has happened with the last 2 Adobe updates prior to this latest update (to 10.4). Updating LrC changes the edits on the images in my catalog to match the mismatched color version that shows up in photoshop when I choose "edit in photoshop." So updating my lightroom to 10.4 will make it such that the color differences no longer exist when using "edit in photoshop." However, my lightroom edits will have been altered for a 3rd time since LrC 10.1.1, which is not how lightroom should work.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

When you use the “Edit in PS” command, ACR renders the raw passed from LR.

When you Export with LR, it renders the image.

IF there is a difference, check ACR settings or maybe reset it's prefs:

Hold down the Command key and select Photoshop > Preferences > Camera Raw (macOS) or hold down the Ctrl key and select Edit > Preferences > Camera Raw (Windows).

Click Yes in the dialog that asks "Delete the Camera Raw Preferences?"

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

Todd Shaner

Legend

I just discovered what may be ths issue. The ARW file shows an As Shot WB of 5950 11 and the DNG As Shot WB is 5600 17, but they look identical. It's not a huge difference, but visible. My guess is that Adobe may have made a change to the Adobe raw camera profile WB calculation in one of the updates. Because of this pictures with WB edited in the older version of LrC will look different.

I still suggest performing the LrC Preferences File reset to remove that as the possible root cause of the issue.

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beb03Author

Inspiring

That's interesting! I'll try what you suggested.

Todd Shaner

Legend

Try resetting your LrC Preferences file as outlined at the below link. Save a copy of the Preferences file to your desktop so it can be easily replaced if the issue remains.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

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beb03Author

Inspiring

Resetting the preferences didn't help. Same issue.

Adobe set up a call time with me for tonight and called 6 hours prior to the time they confirmed in email with me (a time at which I wasn't available). Go figure; I'm not that surprised. So I'm back to troubleshooting this on my own.

As I've stated before, I know that updating to lightroom 10.4 will stop the mismatch between photoshop and lightroom. I know this because I've now had this issue on the last 3 updates of lightroom and photoshop. Updating to 10.2 "resolved" the issue. Updating to 10.3 "resolved" the issue. However, those updates didn't really "resolve" the issue when my edits in the develop module completely change with each lightroom update before my eyes.

Before I give in to a clean re-install, would anyone be willing to try the following for me using my ARW file? Install Lightroom 10.3 with Photoshop 22.5. With this set-up select "edit in Adobe Photoshop" from lightroom and then see if the two images have a mis-match? I don't think anyone is going to see the color difference when using 10.4 with 22.5. Nor will you see it with 10.3 with 22.4.3 installed.

Thank you!!

Todd Shaner

Legend

"doing the update makes it such that the lightroom edits update/change colors before my eyes when I click on the files. They change color to match the less desireable color out of photoshop."

This can happen if you have your Import module 'Build Previews' set to 'Embedded & Sidecar. The Library module preview actually shows the camera's embedded preview, which is usually quite different than LrC's rendering using the Adobe camera profiles. It will stay this way until you apply an edit in the Develop module to the file. Take one of the image that is displaying differently in PS and switch to the Develop module in LrC. Do they now look the same? Apply an edit like Exposure. Do the Develop module, Library module and PS now all look the same?

B

beb03Author

Inspiring

I typically don't view photos in the library module other than prior to import to determine what I want to import. Beyond that I only view them in develop. The difference I am seeing is between the develop module and photoshop. The photos as viewed from the develop module are different from photoshop both SOOC and also with edits applied from the develop module. Also, it is only happening on ARW files. It isn't happening on CR2 files or my ARW that are imported as DNG files.

When I see the edits change before my eyes it is within the develop module after a lightroom update. I'll click on a photo in the develop module that has been previously edited and it will completely change right before my eyes. This happens only once, immediately after a lightroom update.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

@beb03 wrote:

I have made sure that the Color Management monitor profile " sRGB IEC61966-2.1 " with "Use my settings" checked is assigned to default.

You don't want the Color Management monitor profile set for sRGB. You want it set for the display and there should be some profile for it, one you created or at least came from that display.

Can you provide a screen capture of your Photoshop Color settings?

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

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beb03Author

Inspiring

I'm not sure I'm following your suggestion regarding setting it for the display. I followed the reccommendation provided by both Adobe and in this thread for my windows color settings (screenshot also below). https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/lightroom-amp-photoshop-color-doesn-t-match-same-color-workspace/m-p/12217448#M570197

I've also included my PS color settings below. Thank you for your help!

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

Turn on the warning check boxes in the color settings for one. Reopen the document in question.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

johnrellis

Legend

"I'm having a hard time following what the end solution was to see if it would also fix my issue. https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/lightroom-amp-photoshop-color-doesn-t-match-same-..."

I read through that thread carefully, and indeed it isn't clear what finally resolved the problem. However, I agree with D Fosse's recommendation in the second-to-last post to do a clean uninstall/reinstall of all Adobe software, followed by resetting LR's and PS's preferences:

Clean uninstall/reinstall (select "All" in the cleaning app):

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Reset LR's preferences:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

Reset PS's preferences:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset_preferences

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