Mismatch between IEC61966-2.1 color profiles of Photoshop and macbook pro screen

[Benkaramyan]

Hi there! 
I am working with documents in EC61966-2.1 color profile. When screenshotting and pasting somewhere out of photoshop, I am getting an image with dull colors. I've read that the solution is to set both color profiles the same, but when I try to set screen color profile to EC61966-2.1, the colors are becoming oversaturated. Any suggestions? 

[D Fosse]

No, that's not the solution.

The solution is to assign your monitor profile to the screenshot. Then convert to whatever standard color space you're working in, in this case sRGB. Then they will match, both in appearance and numbers.

A screenshot no longer has any connection to the original document, and the original color space no longer applies. The screenshot has already been converted into your monitor profile before being sent to screen. Those are the numbers you capture, but that profile is normally not embedded. So you need to assign it.

You say "somewhere out of photoshop". That could mean anything, and if that "somewhere" isn't fully color managed, all bets are off. But if you have converted as described above, they will at least behave identicallly to the original.

[davescm]

Sorry Dag, you posted while I was typing. At least we are saying the same thing 🙂

Dave

[D Fosse]

The more the merrier 🙂

[davescm · Accepted solution]

The document profile and monitor profile are different things.

The document profile such as Adobe RGB 1998 or sRGB IEC61966-2.1 describe what actual colours the colour values in the document represent.

The monitor profile describes what colours are displayed by your monitor when sent colour values. It is specific to your monitor in its current state of adjustment. So changing the brightness or contrast requires a new monitor profile to be built.

Using both profiles, The colour management system can translate the values sent to your screen in order to display colours correctly.

Now screenshots. Taking screenshots is not the best way to move images in and out of Photoshop, but if you must use a screenshot do this:

1. Take your screenshot.

2. Open it in Photoshop

3. Assign the monitor profile (remember there is only one valid monitor profile).

4. Convert to a document space such as sRGB IEC61966-2.1

5. You can now use or export the screenshot.

Dave

[Benkaramyan]

Thanks everyone! 
I'm just used to giving fast feedbacks with screenshots. And after switching from windows to mac I have faced this problem of incorrect colors in screenshots. The solution that you are suggesting, is not making my life easier :))  As I understand, I need to do extra steps of assigning and converting every time, which I don’t want to. But anyway, thank you again for information 🙂 

[D Fosse]

Make an action, and assign an F-key to it. One click and done.

Anyway, this is just how computers work, irrespective of Photoshop. A screenshot is not the original document and can't be treated as such.

[davescm]

This is not a Mac/Windows issue.

The chances are that in switching from Windows to Mac you have moved from a display with a narrow gamut (close to sRGB) to a display with a wider gamut. The former would not be accurate but might produce a screenshot close enough to sRGB for your use. The latter would not be close as the screen values would be appropriate for sending to a wide gamut screen - hence you see the difference.

Working with wide gamut screens (in Mac or Windows) makes the use of colour management and colour managed applications essential.

Dave

[D Fosse]

Yep, that's very likely it. It was always slightly wrong, but now it jumps in your face because of the wide gamut screen.