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starkaryaz
Participant
August 13, 2022
Question

Photos look flat after being exported

  • August 13, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 1819 views

Hello everyone. I'm having a problem with Lightroom Classic and I'm not being able to fix this problem.

I imported and edited my RAW files (shooted with Fujifilm XT-3) in Lighroom Classic on a Windows 10. The problem comes when I export the files, they look very flat. I checked the colour profile in my camera as well as Lighroom, they're both sRGB. 

 

Days ago I was discussing about it in a forum and I took screenshots of the photo from Lightroom and the exported one to show this problem. The strange thing is that the one in Lightroom was flat as well (in the screenshot). 

 

I started having this problem after I formatted my laptop, before everything was working well. 

 

Does anyone know what the problem could be?

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
August 14, 2022

They look flat in what application and is said application Color Managed? It has to be if you expect a match. Make sure when comparing images in Lightroom Classic and others that first, you view the image in Lightroom Classic in Develop module at 1:1 zoom. IF have your Edit In preferences set for anything but ProPhoto RGB, say sRGB, set up a soft proof for that color space, again in Develop. Then compare in Photoshop and the other app's at the same zoom (100%).
If that doesn't work, a few things to try in each application, disable GPU in preferences; better? 
If not, recalibrate and build a new ICC display profile, the old one might be corrupted.
If you are using software/hardware for this task, be sure the software is set to build a matrix not LUT profile, Version 2 not Version 4 profile.
If turning OFF GPU works, it's a GPU bug and you need to contact the manufacturer or find out if there's an updated driver for it. On the Mac, that's part of the OS update(s) so if this is the latest OS version, you may need to roll back a release.
Also see: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/acr-gpu-faq.html

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 14, 2022

    Suggestions-

    1) Calibrate your monitor with a device for the purpose.

    Color variances can be caused by a problematic monitor profile- even between 'Library' and 'Develop' views in LrC.

    To test your monitor profile to see if it might be the problem-

    MONITOR sRGB PROFILE

     

    2) Setting the Color Profile in Camera to sRGB will only affect JPG files from the camera. RAW files do not have a color space. Check that you are Exporting JPGs as sRGB.

     

    3) Check with the OEM of your Graphics card for the latest Driver for your GPU.

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
      S
      starkaryazAuthor
      Participant
      August 14, 2022

      Thank you for your suggestions! 
      I followed the first point step by step and tested my monitor profile. I change my laptop settings and now it seems to work much better. 
      I exported the photo and now it seems to be 95% the same as the edited one in Lightroom, just a bit darker. However, I think it depends on the application I use to view the photo (Windows photo). Also, I will publish my photos in my online portfolio, so I can't pretend that anyone else will see the same colours as my laptop, or am I wrong?

      TheDigitalDog
      TheDigitalDog
      Inspiring
      August 14, 2022

      No, you can't pretend that. You cannot control how others see your images on the web (or elsewhere). Yes, saving as sRGB is a good start but you have no control over others who may or may not be using color managed applications (without, sRGB is meaningless), if or how they calibrate their displays, etc. The best you can do is control your images on your end using color management. 

      See:

       

      sRGB urban legend & myths Part 2

      In this 17 minute video, I'll discuss some more sRGB misinformation and cover:

      When to use sRGB and what to expect on the web and mobile devices

      How sRGB doesn't insure a visual match without color management, how to check

      The downsides of an all sRGB workflow sRGB's color gamut vs. "professional" output devices

      The future of sRGB and wide gamut display technology

      Photo print labs that demand sRGB for output

      High resolution: http://digitaldog.net/files/sRGBMythsPart2.mp4

      Low resolution on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyvVUL1gWV

      Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
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