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Participating Frequently
October 31, 2007
Question

Photoshop CS3 color management "Save for Web" problem

  • October 31, 2007
  • 680 replies
  • 62138 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

    October 31, 2007
    >using untagged sRGB

    If its untagged how can it be sRGB?

    > just figured that the dell is so much sharper and richer that it shows the problem more betterer...

    Just because a monitor is over saturated or overly sharp does not mean its better. I would think someone using a Dell is doing so because they can't afford an Apple or an Ezio. I would not put Dell and Quality in the same category. Also the huey is not the best calibrator either. The Huey has been the cause of many a color profile issue discussed in the Color Management Forum. This is another product that Is cheap.
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    "use embedded profile" causes PS CS3 to honor the embedded profile (always choose this when a mismatch is detected) then go to "Convert Profile" for a smooth conversion. I have done this... no problem so far. PS is not stripping the profile, it is honoring it. I just read all this at your site I believe. Then I convert to sRGB in preparation for SFW. That's where the problem is... the conversion to sRGB... it is not doing this properly... IMO.

    Proof setup > monitor RGB looks fine in Adobe RGB but not in sRGB, after the conversion.

    I am not stripping the AdobeRGB profile... I am converting it to sRGB.
    How would you suggest converting it to sRGB before SFW?

    Of course I am using Adobe ACE, and I am using CS3
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    >> First of all... I'm using an Adobe RGB image master... I open it and get the Profile Mismatch Screen... I choose Use Enbedded profile... all looks well. Next I go to Proof Setup > Monitor RGB... again all looks well, no change that I can tell.

    This has further confused the issue on several points, not the least of which version PS you are doing this with?
    >> AdobeRGB> Convert to Profile > Working Space sRGB-2.1... all still looks well... but now, when I go to Proof Setup > Monitor RGB... I see the insane oversaturated look that is driving me nuts.

    That is your strongest clue...it sounds like you have a bad system or bad monitor profile. To rule out the monitor profile: Set sRGB as your monitor profile in System Prefs> Displays> Color.
    >> Adobe RGB image master... I open it and get the Profile Mismatch Screen... I choose Use Enbedded profile... all looks well. Next I go to Proof Setup > Monitor RGB... again all looks well

    That doesn't make sense, stripping an embedded AdobeRGB profile should desaturate the color in Softproof MonitorRGB, especially the reds -- you have something wacky going on there.

    At this point I think you need to review the links and get a grip about how color management and profiles work...

    BTW, forget about setting ColorSync in PS COlor Settings, use Adobe ACE.

    MO,
    I think SFW is fixed under CS3 :) By default it Converts to sRGB and strips the profile.
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    Some web browsers will honor profiles, and some don't.

    Yes, and all assume sRGB unless told otherwise... so why the problem when using untagged sRGB... it is sRGB after all. Unless there are different sRGB profiles... could that be a possibility? Is Photoshop assigning the wrong sRGB profile?
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    How could the Dell monitor be causing this... in conjunction with the profile? Any ideas how I could test this theory without buying a different monitor? My old Sony Multiscan 500PS is too tired these days, but does show some of the same color shifting. Perhaps I should disable the monitor profile and/or make a new one using the built-in apple eye-ball calibrator?

    I just figured that the dell is so much sharper and richer that it shows the problem more betterer... Thoughts?
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    > Why does an untagged sRGB image display different in a browser, than a tagged sRGB image?

    Some web browsers will honor profiles, and some don't.

    Save for web is broken and will continue to be broken until fixed.

    The file is not fundamentally broken unless you are breaking it.
    October 31, 2007
    I work in Adobe RGB and let SFW convert. I don't see a problem.

    It just may be that Dell monitor you are using. in conjunction with the calibrator.
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    Why does an untagged sRGB image display different in a browser, than a tagged sRGB image?
    Is there something fundamentally wrong with the file?
    Participating Frequently
    October 31, 2007
    I have been converting to sRGB before going to SFW, but I have the Convert to sRGB checked anyway. I figure it couldn't hurt.

    I am suspecting that converting to sRGB is not working properly. Monitor proofing looks fine unless I have converted to sRGB..... weird.
    October 31, 2007
    I'm getting something different. When I go to SFW and uncheck the "Convert to sRGB" option, the jpeg image look very very close to the original PSD image. What is that saying?