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_Peter_Mars_
Participating Frequently
October 31, 2007
Question

Photoshop CS3 color management "Save for Web" problem

  • October 31, 2007
  • 680 replies
  • 62136 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

    Show previous replies
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    _g_ballard_
    Participating Frequently
    November 9, 2007
    >>1.8

    You mean monitor gamma or source/document gamma?
    L
    Lundberg02
    Inspiring
    November 9, 2007
    1.8 saves me a lot of time trying to get pictures on copy paper to look like the monitor. Which it was intended to do.
    A
    Anonymous
    November 9, 2007
    Well you know that the 1.8 gamma is a holdover from the Apple laserwriter days. That's the only way they could get it to print correct.

    read this. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302827

    Quote from the page:
    >During the calibration of your display, you will need to choose gamma and white point settings. The correct choice depends on how you are most likely to use your images. The best rule of thumb is this:

    > Unless you have a color management expert instructing you otherwise, select a 2.2 gamma and a D65 white point.

    so even Apple recommends a gamma of 2.2
    L
    Lundberg02
    Inspiring
    November 9, 2007
    Unless you can explain why I need 2.2, no thanks.
    I used Supercal to trim my LCD colors and got beautiful rich blacks as well.
    I want my monitor to look good to ME.
    I use Safari for all web images, so I get whatever was in the image.

    And I certainly respect your every word. Unless you say "Microsoft".
    A
    Anonymous
    November 7, 2007
    Lundy calibrate your monitor with a Gamma of 2.2 and let the calibrator use the monitors whitepoint then you won't have yellow whites.
    L
    Lundberg02
    Inspiring
    November 7, 2007
    <Raven Plenty - 12:20pm Nov 7, 07 PST (#182 of 184) <br />Peter, yes I know Firefox is not color managed. I make the case that my colour will be unpredictable on other peoples screens regardless of how well I understand colour management, due to the infinite variety of monitor qualities and settings. If I am happy with the way web pages appear on my screen, and I can create graphics that look good (and are as I wanted them to appear) in a browser on my screen, well that's all that any of us can do really. ><br /><br />I set up my LCD at 1.8 and 9300 for two reasons. 1. I can't stand yellow whites 2. LCD 3/4 tones and below are brown in 6500 3. It's easier to get a print that matches the screen on Staples cheapo copy paper. OK, that's three reasons. I don't need to be consistent because nothing else is.<br /><br />If I like it I don't give a rat's patootie what it looks like to Mrs Joe Sixpack's PC AT.<br /><br />Color management is lunacy in a world of consumer PCs. For print, obey every word of Buko, Mike, g, Jeff, and Peter Figen, especially the latter.
    A
    Anonymous
    November 7, 2007
    Over all I think this was a pretty good thread and I've increased my knowledge in the world of Photoshop Color management. That's not really saying much, I never had a handle on it in the first place... Thanks all!
    A
    Anonymous
    November 7, 2007
    g ballard,

    Here is where I am still confused: What you are saying, as I understand (or misunderstand) is that if an sRGB tagged image looks different in SFW with "convert to sRGB" checked, then my monitor profile is bad. Or put another way, any difference I see is the difference between my monitor profile and the sRGB space.

    I'll leave it at that for now...your thoughts?
    A
    Anonymous
    November 7, 2007
    Peter, yes I know Firefox is not color managed. I make the case that my colour will be unpredictable on other peoples screens regardless of how well I understand colour management, due to the infinite variety of monitor qualities and settings. If I am happy with the way web pages appear on my screen, and I can create graphics that look good (and are as I wanted them to appear) in a browser on my screen, well that's all that any of us can do really.
    _
    _Mike_Ornellas_
    Participating Frequently
    November 7, 2007
    Thank God for collecting bits and pieces from every facet of all industries to create the most comprehensive half baked feature and releasing it to see what happens with no regard to whom is affects.
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