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Participating Frequently
October 31, 2007
Question

Photoshop CS3 color management "Save for Web" problem

  • October 31, 2007
  • 680 replies
  • 62092 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

    November 28, 2007
    Look at Apple refurbs. I got a Cinema HD 23" no complaints here. no dead pixels. and the refurbs have been gone over with a fine tooth comb. they are a bit cheaper than the brand new. Ezio will cost a chunk of cash.
    Participating Frequently
    November 28, 2007
    > I should be able to use any monitor I please, and the results, by way of a calibrated profile, should be the exact same as anyone elses.

    I said should be... besides, I'm just exagerating here... Conveying subtle anger and frustration.

    Why calibrate if nothing can ever match? "Should be" is good. I can want that!
    Participating Frequently
    November 28, 2007
    Mike-
    Touche

    It just didn't seem intuitive or necessary at the time to spend a fortune on an ACD when this 2407 had such high ratings, high resolution, 92% ntsc and was brand new tech.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again... the color, and pop of this thing is truly awesome. With calibration the colors appear absolutely normal, and 4-color work is perfectly matched. It really is weird.
    Ramón G Castañeda
    Inspiring
    November 27, 2007
    Peter Mars,
    >I should be able to use any monitor I please, and the results, by way of a calibrated profile, should be the exact same as anyone elses.

    Absolute nonsense. It's obvious you haven't even begun to explore the subject. And you've never used a reference monitor either.

    - - -

    On the subject of untagged images, the embedded profile barely adds 4KB to the size of a file. At the very least, one should keep a tagged copy of any untagged files one feels compelled to send out or upload.
    Participating Frequently
    November 27, 2007

    Peter -

    Apple makes bad monitors. Wake up.

    Participating Frequently
    November 27, 2007
    Thanks Craig, I'll check out the Eizo
    Participating Frequently
    November 27, 2007
    Doesn't matter what I say at this point... a few have been kind and helpful, and a few have been loud and angry. That's just life I guess.

    95% of the world is on cheap, uncalibrated PC monitors..... so, if I buy an Apple Cinema Display, it'll be the perfect match!
    Participating Frequently
    November 27, 2007
    > Why is it so hard for you to understand this... I should be able to use any monitor I please, and the results, by way of a calibrated profile, should be the exact same as anyone else. Period!

    Clearly you have no concept that no one is on the same page for manufacturing standards.
    Participating Frequently
    November 27, 2007
    <So a different monitor will make all these troubles go away... well I guess my safest choice then would be an Apple Cinema Display? ><br /><br />Well your best bet would be a Sony Artisan, but since it isn't made anymore, in fact there are no CRT displays made today that are up to professional standards, so you have to go LCD.<br /><br />Check out Eizo Color Edge.<br /><br />Still, you should be able to find something affordable that gets you in the ballpark of sRGB.
    Participating Frequently
    November 27, 2007
    Why is it so hard for you to understand this... I should be able to use any monitor I please, and the results, by way of a calibrated profile, should be the exact same as anyone elses. Period! If Dell doesn't represent the essential PC model, what the heck does! So I bought a Dell Monitor that was Highly rated and refused to believe that photoshop and or a browser couldn't handle it. Now I give up... thanks for you concern.

    No one twisted your arm to jump in here every 10 minutes either! You should have stopped reading this thread after post #29 if you were so annoyed! A few good folks stuck with it and I am for one am eternally grateful to them. Have you lost sleep over this, have you argued with your wife over this, have you walked in circles and cursed over this???? Well I have, for weeks!!! Go away then!