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Q
qwety0D45
Participating Frequently
July 27, 2021
Answered

Export of a RAW image from a camera looks darker

  • July 27, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 3349 views

Hi!

 

I have the problem with export colors that look much darker then original images have. It's very confusing to edit with lighter colors in Lightroom comparing to the export. Note, that imported images from export into Lightroom looks also darker. Original images are RAW files from Fujifilm XT-3 camera with .RAF extension and export is JPEG sRGB 99% quality. Also note, that original images look the same in Lightroom and all other viewers including Windows Photos, so the problem is only with export that makes the images darker.

.JPG and .RAF file:

https://fex.net/s/ovny7cy (64.5 Mb, the link will expire in 7 days)

 

Original image .RAF - looks the same in Lightroom, ImageGlass, Windows Photos.

Exported image .JPG - looks the same in Lightroom, ImageGlass, Windows Photos but darker then the orinal image and preview.

 

Do you have some suggestions?

 

Thank you in advance!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Todd Shaner

My summary:

- Use Lightroom for JPG files as input. No problems with export.

- Convert Fujifilm RAF files using either Capture One or Fujifilm's conversion app (RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 3.0).

 

Lightroom Classic version: 10.3 [ 202105281559-8dc50eb4 ]

 

With Capture One I get valid the same image in preview and in export with RGB and sRGB profiles after changes in Colors Management and the restart of Capture One app. For me the valid image is the one I see on camera and in the official Fujifilm RAW conversion app.

 

I don't want to take more of yours and mine time on this issue.

Thank you a lot!


quote

I don't want to take more of yours and mine time on this issue.

Thank you a lot!

By @qwety0D45

 

No problem and I believe I've found what's causing the darker rendering. I examined the RAF file using ExifTool and you have the ETERNA/Cinema picture style applied in-camera. The LrC default camera profile is Adobe Color, which renders the image darker. In the Develop module Profile selector click on the 4 dot icon and select the Camera ETERNA/Cinema v2 camera profile. It matches the embedded preview rendering perfectly! Enjoy!

 

4 replies

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
July 27, 2021

First off, you can and should only compare 'previews' (in each application) at 1:1/100% zoom or greater. For Lightroom Classic, the module MUST be Develop; other modules do not use the same preview architecture. 

When you export, you need to ensure the application is color managed, that the exported image is in the same color space ideally as LR (so I'd export in ProPhoto RGB; that's very, very close to what's used in Develop). 

A prevew of an embedded document doesn't count; you need to open the exported image in say Photoshop or elsewhere, zoom to 1:1, then make a screen capture of that (and what doesn't 'match'), assign your display profile and ideally conver to sRGB THEN upload the two, side by side for us to view.

Lastly, short of a corrupted ICC profile, an issue with Version 4 ICC display profiles in *some* applications (so never build to that spec, use V2) OR a GPU issue, ALL color managed applications will match each other when viewed at the same and ideal zoom ratio outlined. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
Todd Shaner
Todd Shaner
Legend
July 27, 2021

I forgot to mention that you should close and reopen LrC after unchecking both 'Use GPU for image processing' and 'Use GPU for display.' Try that and if the issue remains try changing your display profile to sRGB if using a standard display and Adobe RGB if using a wide gamut display. You'll need to close and reopen LrC so that it can load the new display profile.

 

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-do-i-change-my-monitor-profile-to-check-whether-its-corrupted/

 

Q
qwety0D45Author
Participating Frequently
July 27, 2021

I had no profiles in "Color Management" for my monitor in Windows and changing it makes a difference on the preview in Lightroom, however, not on the export.

 

- Set as default "sRGB IEC61966-2.1" profile, Lightroom asks to regenerate previews and shows proper preview images but export still dark with both sRGB and RGB image format during export. On the second try for some reason it keeps showing dark images and export the same.

- Set as default "Adobe RGB (1998)" profile, Lightroom asks to regenerate previews and shows dark preview images and export also dark.

 

My monitor is Dell P2416D and it has only RGB and YPbPr color format options in its menu. Accordingly to specs it has 99% sRGB color coverage.

 

I am closing and reopening Lightroom. For now I'll use Capture One but if you have more suggestions I am happy to try. In Capture One I can choose ICC Profile in a menu and for both "Adobe RGB (1998)" and "sRGB IEC61966-2.1" it properly shows preview and exports.

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
July 27, 2021

 

@qwety0D45 wrote:

I had no profiles in "Color Management" for my monitor in Windows and changing it makes a difference on the preview in Lightroom, however, not on the export.


Yes, you do and must, otherwise all color managed applications can't produce a preview. 

Updating a display profile in no way would make LR regenerate previews. So I'm not sure what you're doing or what dialog or information you're getting whereby LR tells you it is regenerating anything; can you post a screen capture? 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
Todd Shaner
Todd Shaner
Legend
July 27, 2021

The RAF and JPEG files look identical when viewed inside LrC and PS, which are both fully color managed applications. If they look different on your system when viewed side-by-side (Compare mode - C key) disable the GPU at Edit> Preferences> Performance by unchecking both 'Use GPU for image processing' and 'Use GPU for display.'

Q
qwety0D45Author
Participating Frequently
July 27, 2021

- In Photoshop it looks darker as in export from Lightroom.

- Disabling GPU in Lightroom made no difference.

- When I click on "Embedden Preview" in Lightroom it starts showing the same darker image in preview.

 

Note, that both preview and export in Capture One 21 aren't darker and match.

GoldingD
GoldingD
Legend
July 27, 2021

On a Fuji X, using embedded previews is not such a good idea. The embedded previews in Fuji-X are to small. 

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
July 27, 2021

You posted this same question in another thread at https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic/exported-pictures-is-way-darker-then-in-lr/td-p/10909234 which has a lot of advice and solutions for this exact problem.

Q
qwety0D45Author
Participating Frequently
July 27, 2021

Thank you for the reply. As I have mentioned there the comments in that thread aren't solutions to this problem as the images look exactly the same using all tools I have tried including Lightroom, Windows Photos, ImageGlass, Paint (except .RAF as it's not supported), etc. However, there's difference between original image and exported one via Lightroom.

 

Please go through the details I have provided. A sample image is also there.

Q
qwety0D45Author
Participating Frequently
July 27, 2021

Attached two images:

- export from Lightroom

- export from RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 3.0.

Both tools show the same preview for the original image, however, Lightroom exports it darker while RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 3.0 the same as original image. No changes were applied to the image in both of the tools.

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