Skip to main content
_
_Peter_Mars_
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

    Show previous replies
    _
    _Michele_Berti_
    Participating Frequently
    February 18, 2008
    ok so it would be like this:

    1) duplicate the original twice and then close the master;
    2 convert both copy to sRGB;
    2) use one as reference;
    3) setup a soft proof on the second picking up your monitor profile as Device to Simulate and make sure the "Preserve RGB Numbers" is activated;
    4) with soft proof activated make all the adjustments to the copy in order to get a picture as close as possible to the reference;
    5) resize, apply a touch of sharpening and save as jpg without the ICC;
    A
    Anonymous
    February 18, 2008
    >What you think?

    You have the first 2 steps Backwards. never mess with the original
    _
    _Michele_Berti_
    Participating Frequently
    February 18, 2008
    Finally I think the best way to go in order to produce nice images for the web is to soft proof. The idea is exactly the same you adopt before printing except in this case the device to simulate is a non-color managed environment.

    Put simply here my workflow:

    1) convert the original picture to sRGB;
    2) duplicate the original picture;
    3) setup a soft proof picking up your monitor profile as Device to Simulate and make sure the "Preserve RGB Numbers" is activated;
    4) with soft proof activated make all the adjustments to the copy in order to get a picture as close as possible to the original one;
    5) resize, apply a touch of sharpening and save as jpg without the ICC;

    This should ensure your picture will looks quite the same assuming most of your viewer have a properly calibrated monitor.

    What you think?
    L
    Lundberg02
    Inspiring
    February 17, 2008
    The Dell probably just has a somewhat better blue filter dsicovered in a rock in the Australian outback by Steve Irwin before a crocodile ate him.
    Just do what you're supposed to do in CS3 already and shut the --------up.
    _
    _Peter_Mars_Author
    Participating Frequently
    February 17, 2008
    Using your monitor profile as the color space guarantees images you see on your monitor will be perfect. The problem is that everyone elses monitors are either sRGB or calibrated to simulate sRGB. Previewing in Save for Web (SFW) attempts to show what images will look like on sRGB monitors when PS is set-up correctly (showing what the majority of viewers will see).

    I too had a 2407-HC and the problem is that even with correct calibration/profiling (I use a Huey Pro) it does not display the sRGB space the same way as a standard sRGB space monitor. Photoshop, for some reason, assumes all monitors are sRGB, it by-passes your calibration profile, and sends the image directly to your monitor (again, assuming the masses are operating this way)

    Calibrate your monitor, follow the guidelines for set-up at gballard.net, and forget about the weird SFW preview image (yes, even in the 2-up window that has "original" and "Optimized") or get a different monitor.

    I personally couldn't handle the difference between my 2407-HC and an sRGB monitor and couldn't ignore the color behaviour of photoshop. I switched to an Apple Cinema Display. I have discovered that the ACD is MUCH closer to sRGB space but is not exactly on either. No one's monitor is exactly on sRGB, but much closer works much better for me... I am much happier now.

    Personally, I think Photoshop should simply add a button that allows you to preview SFW through your own calibration profile... Something simple like "Calibrated Monitor")

    Many thanks to all the MUCH knowledgable people in here!!!!!
    _
    _Jareus_
    Participant
    February 17, 2008
    Hi Buko,

    Thanks for your reply. But this solution works for me regardless of whichever working space that I use. I actually use Adobe RGB (1998). The issue I was attempting to address was that of color shift when Saving as Web, clearly demonstrated in the 2-UP view. By deactivating the Save as SRGB, the color shift is eliminated.

    My monitor is calibrated using a Pantone Huey and therefore surely for web-based work, which is obviously screen based, provided that my screen is showing the colors as accurately as possible to me, then when I save the images there shouldn't be an issue(?). As you quite rightly say, I cannot be responsible for those who view my images on an uncalibrated monitor.

    Please correct me if I'm wrong but should I really be concerned about embedding profiles in my web graphics if I'm confident that my colors are relatively accurate on my calibrated screen?

    Many thanks,

    Jareus
    A
    Anonymous
    February 17, 2008
    Jareus, the problem with using your monitor profile as your working space is that you are the only person on the planet with that profile. And because it looks good on your monitor guarantees it will look like crap on everyone else's monitor.

    If you use a working space that is a known quantity (sRGB, AdobeRGB, ect... ) at least your images will look good on monitors that are calibrated correctly. There is nothing you can do about the uncalibrated monitors.
    _
    _Jareus_
    Participant
    February 17, 2008
    That last post on re-reading comes across a touch arrogant, what I meant to say is that maybe I misunderstood where this post had gone. I had an issue whereby PS CS3 would provide overly saturated images when using Save for Web on my calibrated 2407WFP-HC. I tried all the usual color management and profile tweaks that I could find on the web and then finally found Tancredi's post regarding the 'hidden' default(!) setting that converts all Save for Web output to SRGB, and suddenly (once switched off) in the 2-Up view my output was as per my PSD image! Eureka.

    My apologies, if this contradicts what you had discussed previously.
    _
    _Jareus_
    Participant
    February 17, 2008
    Sorry Guys ... I simply posted it because it's the only solution that I've found that actually works! ... and it works regardless of the color management settings on my machine. Sure you're all not trying to over complicate the issue?

    Many thanks Tancredi!
    _
    _Peter_Mars_Author
    Participating Frequently
    February 17, 2008
    Wow... even I knew this was gonna be the wrong advice as soon as I read "...very simple hidden setting". All I can say is that this thread has become way, way too long for any new people to figure out all the info in here.
    Show more replies
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices