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C
CVV64
Participant
January 26, 2025
Question

Creating an image in PS using a digital backdrop, quality of the original image changed

  • January 26, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 149 views

I am using Adobe PS 2025 and LR catalog 13.4. When I create a composite with a digital backdrop (psd file) and the picture imported as psd or nef the new composite looks like the colors of the imported picture changed, the image is dull and low quality( see attcahed) Both the backdrop and the picture are in color mode RGB8.   I have very limited experience with PS, and as you can read I do not have the right terminology.  Please advise, thank you. 

1 reply

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2025

It sounds like your master image is untagged, it doesn't have an embedded color profile.

 

Always make sure there is an embedded profile. That provides a definition for the colors. Without a profile, colors are undefined and all bets are off. With an embedded profile, all copy/pastes will be correctly converted and colors preserved.

 

Lightroom by default sends to Photoshop as ProPhoto RGB, which absolutely requires full color management at all times. A ProPhoto file without proper color management will appear dull and desaturated.

    C
    CVV64Author
    Participant
    January 26, 2025

    Thank you for your response. Could you please teach me how to embedd the color profile in LR. I don't know to much about this but I believe that you are correct, it makes sense what you described. Again thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond to my message. 

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 27, 2025

    Coming from Lightroom, there always is an embedded profile. So that part is fine. You choose which one in Lightroom preferences.

     

    Problems happen if that is pasted into, or placed into, a master Photoshop file that doesn't have a profile. Then the incoming profile from Lightroom will not be correctly treated.

     

    The main thing in Photoshop is to not change anything in Color Settings. Above all, color management policies should be set to "Preserve Embedded Profiles". That's the default, don't change it.

     

    If you're creating a new file, set the desired profile in the File > New dialog.

     

    When using Export or Save For Web, check "embed color profile". It's unchecked by default, but once you check it, it should stick.

     

    If you have existing untagged files, assign one in Edit > Assign Profile. It needs to be the right one, which is the one the file was created in originally. If you don't know, try different profiles until it looks right. Most likely it will be the one you have set as working space.

     

    Finally - if you don't know which profile to use, stick to sRGB until you know. They all have advantages and disadvantages depending on purpose; there's no "best" profile. But sRGB is generally the safest in most situations.

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