why the color in images taken by screen capture are different? Mac & Windows & Display

Question

Hi professional and experts,

I hope this question is not too baby level.

I got a Macbook connected to a External Display, have another Thinkpad notebook.

The Macbook color profile is Color LCD, the Display profile is S27F350, have no idea on Thinkpad.

Recently, I found this:

An original image displays different in Display (Color 1) and Macbook (Color 2), which is caused by the different color profile.

Then, I made 2 screen captures based on same 1 physical image file:

Screen Capture 01 is while the image displaying in Display

Screen Capeture 02 is shile the image displaying in Macbook

Then the 2 screen captures are sent to Thinkpad via an IM (instant messge) tool.

Then it's found:

1. When click the 2 images via IM tool from Macbook, both of them display in same color on each of screen: 01 and 02 display same color in External Display (Color 1), 01 and 02 diplay another same color in Macbook screen (Color 2).

2. When click the 2 images via IM tool from Thinkpad, they are displaying 2 different colors: one looks same to it was displaying in Display (Color 1), another one looks same to it was displaying in Macbook (Color 2).

3. After saving the 2 images to local dis from Thinkpad, viewing from Windows Photo, they look same color (Color 1).

Could you please help to clarify the reason?

My question is:

1. In IM tool, if Thinkpad view 2 images at 2 colors, in Macbook or in Display, the 2 images shall be displayed to 2 colors on each screen too. Otherwise, Thinkpad and Macbook and Display shall all display 2 images as same color.

2. Why in Thinkpad, the view of 2 images in IM tool display to 2 colors while view of the 2 images from Windows Photo display to 1 color?

Attached video record for better understanding.

Thanks in advance for your inputs.

D Fosse · Answer

You have started several threads that show one thing clearly: you're fumbling about in the dark with absolutely no direction. You need to stop before you destroy your files beyond repair.

You obviously care about accurate color, and so you have one thing to do: buy a calibrator. It's the only way out of your current mess. Don't think, just do it. A calibrator is not a luxury, it's essential equipment. Any serious Photoshop user will have one and use it regularly.

Photoshop cannot display accurately without an accurate monitor profile. The calibrator (or calibrator/profiler to be precise) will make that for you.

As for screenshots, the original document profile no longer applies. A screenshot has already been converted into your monitor profile, and it has monitor RGB numbers. So you need to first assign the monitor profile for whatever screen the capture is from, then convert to a standard color space like sRGB, Adobe RGB etc. Then the colors will match.

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