Color super dark on photo import (any format), fixes itself on export???

@GraceAndCorbett I agree with @Srishti Bali that this is very likely a profile-mismatch (or missing-profile) problem. I'd imagine you may be viewing in a non colourmanaged application after exporting. 

When you open Photoshop, if there's no embedded profile, then as a colourmanaged application, Photoshop has to assume something, so it uses the default RGB colourspace set in "Color Settings"

We need to know a bit more about your process, IS there an embedded profile, how are you viewing the exported file? 

I hope this helps

neil barstow colourmanagement - adobe forum volunteer,

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In what application are you viewing the exported image?

Please post screenshots of an image in Photoshop and the same image after export.

Make sure to include the histogram in Photoshop. (Window > Histogram)

To post screenshots, use the Insert Photos button in the toolbar to embed them in your post.

Please do not attach screenshots.

Don't use Colormatch RGB. It's way obsolete and not used anywhere by anyone these days. Use the standard color spaces sRGB, Adobe RGB or ProPhoto - or if you're dealing much with the Mac community, possibly Display P3.

It also sounds like you're either not embedding the color profile, or you have disabled color management in Photoshop. That is another problem. Colormatch RGB has a 1.8 gamma, which means images prepared in Colormatch RGB and viewed without correct color management will appear very dark. 

If you have made any changes in Photoshop color settings, revert everything to defaults. You do this by picking one of the "general purpose" presets.

When you save or export a file, always make sure the color profile is embedded. And again, that should not be Colormatch RGB, but one of the standard spaces I listed above.

Thanks so much, Srishti- for some reason the photo upload isn't working, but it's currently set to:

Profile ColorMatch RGB

Hi @GraceAndCorbett,

Thanks for reaching out. Looks like a Profile Mismatch issue. To help narrow down the cause, could you provide a bit more detail:

• Which exact version of Photoshop 2025 are you running (e.g., 26.9, 26.10)?

• Do you notice this with all file types (JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD) or only certain formats?

• Does the issue happen when you open a file directly, or only when importing/placing it?

• What color space are the files in (sRGB, AdobeRGB, etc.)?

• Please go to Edit > Assign Profile and share a screenshot.

This will help us determine if it’s a display/profile mismatch or something else.

Regards,

Srishti