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Participating Frequently
October 31, 2007
Question

Photoshop CS3 color management "Save for Web" problem

  • October 31, 2007
  • 680 replies
  • 62091 views
This problem is getting the best of me.......

After spending 3 full days researching this problem, I am no closer to finding an answer than when I started. I still cannot produce a usable image through the "Save for Web" feature of Photoshop CS3. I have read web page after web page of "Tips, Tricks and Recommendations" from dozens of experts, some from this forum, and still I have no solution... I am exhausted and frustrated to say the least. Here's the simple facts that I know at this point.

I have a web design project that was started in PS CS1. All artwork was created in photoshop and exported to JPG format by using "Save for Web". Every image displays correctly in these browsers (Safari, Camino, FireFox and even Internet Explorer on a PC).

I have recently upgraded to PS CS3 and now cannot get any newly JPG'd image to display correctly. My original settings in CS1 were of no concern to me at the time, because it always just worked, and so I do not know what they were. I have opened a few of my previous images in CS3 and found that sRGB-2.1 displays them more or less accurately. I am using sRGB 2.1 working space. Upon openning these previous image files, I get the "Missing Profile" message and of course I select "Leave as is. Do Not color manage". CS3 assumes sRGB-2.1 working space, opens the file, and all is well.

The problem is when I go to "Save for Web", the saturation goes up, and the colors change. The opposite of what most people are reporting. Here's another important point... new artwork created in CS3 does exactly the same thing, so it's not because of the older CS1 files.

I have tried every combination of "uncompensated color", "Convert to sRGB", "ICC Profile", etc. while saving. I have Converted to sRGB before saving, and my monitor is calibrated correctly.
I have tried setting the "Save for Web" page on 2-up and the "original" on the left is already color shifted before I even hit the "Save" button. Of course, the "Optimized" image on the right looks perfect because I am cheating by selecting the "Use Document Color Profile" item. Why do they even have this feature if doesn't work, or misleads you?

Does anyone have any ideas what could be happening here? Why is this all so screwed up?
CS1 worked fine out of the box.

Final note: I do have an image file I could send along that demonstrates how it is possible to display an image exactly the same in all 4 of the browsers I mentioned with no color differences. It is untagged RGB and somehow it just works.

I am very frustrated with all of this and any suggestions will be appreciated

Thanks,
Pete
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    680 replies

    December 3, 2007
    Here's an attempt to summarize what's been resolved regarding the original topic.

    A colour shift between the original image viewed in Photoshop and the Save For Web preview window may be caused by one or more of the following:

    1. A source image that hasn't been converted to sRGB, and "convert to sRGB" being unchecked in the SFW options menu.

    2. An improperly calibrated monitor or an improper monitor profile being selected.

    3. Use of a monitor which has a gamut that differs from sRGB

    If anyone spots errors or would like to clarify or elaborate, please do.
    Ramón G Castañeda
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2007
    Should read: stop giving bad advice.
    Ramón G Castañeda
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2007
    And please stop giving bad advise in other threads, Raven.
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2007
    But you're starting from zero, Raven and Peter. Get Real World Color Management at Barnes and Noble and spend some time learning.
    December 2, 2007
    >Please, Raven and Peter Mars, learn something about color, capture devices, output devices, and printing before you make statements like "what good is a wider gamut monitor."

    You guys really are too much. It wasn't a statement, it was an honest question. You have the answers, you tell me. Or don't. For pete's sake I'm begging you to PLEASE stop with the insults.
    jefbak
    Known Participant
    December 2, 2007
    I think many responses in this thread are lacking consideration and the ability to remember (especially in forums) that there is no such thing as a stupid question...

    Anyway my wife is a very successful landscape photographer who uses photoshop with very basic knowlegde of color space and her work looks great. Now she does have her work printed at a lab with a huge epson printer where, I assume, all the high end color tech takes place.

    This problem is showing in the web arena of photoshop cs3. I have read that choosing the option to save to srgb space might fix it, but it didn't for me.

    The bottom line issue for our website (www.smith.edu) is that the default setting (out of the box) for gif images saved in CS3 are slightly brighter than those created with cs1 with every setting we can think of being the same.

    Should I try fireworks???

    One more thing. We are all running Leopard now, so cs1, cs2 and cs3 are all on that os. Still if I make the gif in cs1 on Leopard it still looks like the rest of the colors on the site, but cs2 and cs3 are still brighter.
    Ramón G Castañeda
    Inspiring
    December 2, 2007
    >Say I don't know, or spill the beans already!

    You do realize that no one has an obligation to respond to any post here, don't you?

    An overbearing, arrogant and stubborn attitude wouldn't forebode well for a long learning adventure.
    Ramón G Castañeda
    Inspiring
    December 2, 2007
    >A simple hint as to it's practical real world use

    Photography comes to mind immediately.

    I shoot RAW and convert to the ProPhoto RGB color space. That's wider than the widest-gamut monitor can display, and that's why Photoshop has a "Gamut Warning" feature.

    Have you noticed that the application is called Photo shop, and not sheetfedpressshop, webimageshop or anything like that?

    High quality inkjet printers and continuous-tone, chemically developed photo paper printers can print digital images with colors outside the gamut of current high-end wide-gamut monitors.

    I hope eventually the industry will come out with a ProPhoto RGB Monitor. In the meantime, current wide-gamut monitors will have to do.

    You two guys really, really should start doing your due diligence and read on color management ASAP. I can't imagine you guys surviving even in your industry for long if you don't. Trying to learn in bits and pieces exclusively by picking other people's brains won't cut it for a pro even if you keep stretching this thread to thousands of posts. One has to put a lot of reading and hard work into the learning process.
    Participating Frequently
    December 2, 2007
    So can it be used for full spectrum light therapy in places with harsh winters and and where low light levels cause people to lose their minds, or can it be used as a stand-in for a slide viewing light table.

    A simple hint as to it's practical real world uses would be nice.... if anyone knows or is willing to stick their neck out around here.

    It was just a simple question... to put it simply.

    Say I don't know, or spill the beans already!
    Inspiring
    December 1, 2007
    < I also just read something about most OSes, video cards, cables etc not being able to provide the full gamut to a wider gamut monitor anyway. > What kind of nuttiness is this?

    Please, Raven and Peter Mars, learn something about color, capture devices, output devices, and printing before you make statements like "what good is a wider gamut monitor."