Oversaturation on facebook on other devices

[Miss_Val22]

Hello! Ive been having an issue where I upload photos directly from my computer I have windows 11. When I upload them to facebook they look fine on my computer screen, but when i go to view them in facebook on a different device like my cell phone they are over saturated and faces look orange. 
Ive tried to play with color setting in photoshop to fix the issue but no luck. 
I've uploaded photos before without this happening, so I dont  know if its just windows 11 or facebook trying to condence the photo? Or if its photoshop? 

all my devices and programs are up to date. 

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Miss_Val22 Please don't 'play with' the colour settings in Photoshop. (I know the feeling though, I did it myself back in the 90's) That’s way you'll only get into a tangle.

Do your image files have an embedded ICC profile? Thats vital. 

Next step, when you save images to be viewed on Facebook etc, it's best to convert the image colourspace to sRGB and embed the ICC profile. 

Please let us know how that goes

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.
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[Miss_Val22]

I'm not sure about the icc profiles because I've never had an issue before this previous upload. 
steps on how to embed icc profiles would be appreciated. 

[ThioJoe]

It's almost certainly a color management issue of some kind, but that's an entire can of worms. The problem could be occurring at the photoshop level, like due to the chosen working color space or exported/embedded color space, or it could be at the windows level with a weird ICC profile set, it could be the monitor (though if you didn't change monitors probably unlikely), or it could even be a change in how the facebook app assumes color spaces on photos. Though the fact that you mention it happens on multiple other devices that says to me there is a mismatch of chosen color space somehow on the device you're editing the pictures.

If you want the simplest potential solution, take a look at these two options in the Export As menu when you go to save a photo:

If they are checked, try unchecking them, and vice-versa, etc. You can also try just checking to Convert to sRGB without embedding the color profile.

Another thing you could check is for this setting in Windows to "Automatically manage color for apps". If it's enabled, you can try disabling it, and vice-versa.

I have an entire video about the topic which should be a pretty good primer, it's pretty long but you should have a better idea of why it's happening if you can sit through it. Ignore the semi-clickbait title, you don't necessarily need to change ICC profiles for your monitor, but you'll still have a better understanding of why different devices look oversaturated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdFpJFSTMVw

[Miss_Val22]

Thank you for the thorough response! That was really informative and helpful. I'll try some of the things you mentioned.
I honestly think it's w11. When I was using windows 10 no issues after I updated to windows 11 that's when this started happening so I'm gonna for sure try the automatic color management in my windows settings. 

thank you so much!!! 😁

[Nancy OShea]

Have you color-calibrated your display recently?  That's important.

https://www.microsoft.com/windows/learning-center/how-to-color-calibrate-your-monitor

Also, when exporting images for the web, always use sRGB Color Space which is a common web standard.  Without it, some browsers like Firefox will render colors in unexpected ways.

From Photoshop, go to File > Export > ExportAs.   See screenshot.

Hope that helps.

[Miss_Val22]

Thank you!! This is also helpful! 🙂

[D Fosse]

To sum it all up:

Oversaturation means that sRGB is displayed on a wide gamut screen without proper color management.

Do not touch anything in Photoshop color settings!

[Miss_Val22]

I do not think this is the problem givin I have uploaded photos on the same computer without any issue before. This has obly happened once so its not my screen. 

[D Fosse]

@Miss_Val22 

The problem isn't your screen, but whether the application performs color management when sending data to the screen. It's not the hardware, it's the software.

Some applications don't support color management at all, they will never display correctly under any circumstances.

What is certain, is that Photoshop is not the problem. That's why you shouldn't change anything in Photoshop.

The point is that if you see sRGB oversaturated, the color management chain isn't operating - whether it's because the application doesn't support it, or there's a defective component like an icc profile. If the latter, it's usually the monitor profile.

[Miss_Val22]

Also telling me not to do something, and not giving any information on why does not help. 

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Miss_Val22 

Windows display profile, display profile issues on Windows

Here's something to try

It'll only take a few minutes and is good troubleshooting.

At least once a week on this forum we read about this, or very similar issues of appearance differing between colour managed applications.

Of course you must not expect accurate colour with programs such as early versions of Windows "Photos”*, because in those early versions colour management is not implemented, so, such programs are incapable of providing accurate image display.

*Windows "Photos” does do colour management now and has for a while, but beware early versions and other apps that are non colour management compliant.

Unfortunately, with Microsoft hardware: Windows updates, Graphics Card updates and Display manufacturers have a frustratingly growing reputation for automatically installing useless (corrupted) monitor display profiles.

I CAN happen with Macs but with far less likelihood, it seems.]

The issue can affect different application programs in different ways, some not at all, some very badly.

The poor monitor display profile issue is hidden by some applications, specifically those that do not use colour management, such as Microsoft Windows "Photos".

Photoshop is correct, it’s the industry standard for viewing images, in my experience it's revealing an issue with the Monitor Display profile rather than causing it. Whatever you do, don't ignore it. As the issue isn’t caused by Photoshop, please don’t change your Photoshop ‘color settings’ to try fix it.

To find out if the monitor display profile is the issue, I recommend you to try temporarily setting the monitor profile for your own monitor display under “Device” in your Windows ‘color management’ control panel to “sRGB IEC61966-2.1”. (If you have a wide gamut monitor display (check the spec online) it’s better to try ‘AdobeRGB1998” here instead as it more closely approximates the display characteristics).

Click ‘Start’, type color in the search box,

then click Color Management.

[or Press the Windows key + R, type colorcpl in the box and press Enter]

In the Devices tab, ensure that your monitor is selected in the Device field.

You can click to ADD to add “sRGB IEC61966-2.1” (or AdobeRGB1998) if not already listed there.

Again - IF you have a wide gamut display I suggest trying “AdobeRGB1998”

Once it’s selected, be sure to check “Use my settings for this device” up top.

And click on “set as Default Profile - bottom right

Screenshot of Color Management Control Panel

Quit and relaunch Photoshop after the control panel change, to ensure the new settings are applied.

Depending on the characteristics of your monitor display and your requirements, using sRGB or Adobe RGB here may be good enough - but no display perfectly matches either, so a custom calibration is a superior approach.

If this change to the Monitor Display profile temporarily fixes the appearance issue, it is recommended that you should now calibrate and profile the monitor properly using a calibration sensor like the i1display pro, which will create and install its own custom monitor profile. The software should install its profile correctly so there should be no need to manually set the control panel once you are doing this right.

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement net  - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'

google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.

Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

 

[Miss_Val22]

Unfortunately this did not work. Ive triend everything possible I've tried all the advice that was given and i still have not seen any results. My conclusion is that it has something to do with WINDOWS 11. I did not have this problem prior when i was using windows 10. so unfortunately im just going to have to invest in a mac computer.

[Nancy OShea]

Your display settings are probably out of alignment. Windows updates can do that.

Update your graphics drivers directly from the video card maker's website.  Don't rely on the ones supplied by MS.

Also calibrate your display's color settings.

[Miss_Val22]

Thank you, this is legit my last option. Ive tried everything. 

Even viewing my edited photos on a mac they look different in photoshop.

Had someeone one come to look at it and we went through all the advice and whatever advice he had to offer which wasnt much different from whats on here. We calibrated my display twice.  We tried saving in pdf, psd, png, and jpeg and no difference.

I know things arent going to look exactly the same on every device but it also shouldnt be such a drastic difference.  Thanks again for you help.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Miss_Val22 this MIGHT help (recent cellphones are pretty close to each other, to that may. not be your issue)

Windows display profile, display profile issues on Windows

Here's something to try

It'll only take a few minutes and is good troubleshooting.

At least once a week on this forum we read about this, or very similar issues of appearance differing between colour managed applications.

Of course you must not expect accurate colour with programs such as early versions of Windows "Photos”*, because in those early versions colour management is not implemented, so, such programs are incapable of providing accurate image display.

*Windows "Photos” does do colour management now and has for a while, but beware early versions and other apps that are non colour management compliant.

Unfortunately, with Microsoft hardware: Windows updates, Graphics Card updates and Display manufacturers have a frustratingly growing reputation for automatically installing useless (corrupted) monitor display profiles.

I CAN happen with Macs but with far less likelihood, it seems.]

The issue can affect different application programs in different ways, some not at all, some very badly.

The poor monitor display profile issue is hidden by some applications, specifically those that do not use colour management, such as Microsoft Windows "Photos".

Photoshop is correct, it’s the industry standard for viewing images, in my experience it's revealing an issue with the Monitor Display profile rather than causing it. Whatever you do, don't ignore it. As the issue isn’t caused by Photoshop, please don’t change your Photoshop ‘color settings’ to try fix it.

To find out if the monitor display profile is the issue, I recommend you to try temporarily setting the monitor profile for your own monitor display under “Device” in your Windows ‘color management’ control panel to “sRGB IEC61966-2.1”. (If you have a wide gamut monitor display (check the spec online) it’s better to try ‘AdobeRGB1998” here instead as it more closely approximates the display characteristics).

Click ‘Start’, type color in the search box,

then click Color Management.

[or Press the Windows key + R, type colorcpl in the box and press Enter]

In the Devices tab, ensure that your monitor is selected in the Device field.

You can click to ADD to add “sRGB IEC61966-2.1” (or AdobeRGB1998) if not already listed there.

Again - IF you have a wide gamut display I suggest trying “AdobeRGB1998”

Once it’s selected, be sure to check “Use my settings for this device” up top.

And click on “set as Default Profile - bottom right

Screenshot of Color Management Control Panel

Quit and relaunch Photoshop after the control panel change, to ensure the new settings are applied.

Depending on the characteristics of your monitor display and your requirements, using sRGB or Adobe RGB here may be good enough - but no display perfectly matches either, so a custom calibration is a superior approach.

If this change to the Monitor Display profile temporarily fixes the appearance issue, it is recommended that you should now calibrate and profile the monitor properly using a calibration sensor like the i1display pro, which will create and install its own custom monitor profile. The software should install its profile correctly so there should be no need to manually set the control panel once you are doing this right.

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement net  - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'

google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.

Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts.

[D Fosse]

@Miss_Val22 And that conclusion is wrong. You can hardly blame Windows or Photoshop if it displays oversaturated on other devices. We don't know how those other devices are set up, what applications you're using and whether they support color management at all.

You keep saying you didn't have any problem before, but nothing about what your current settings are.

The most likely explanation is that you're not embedding the color profile. Without a color profile, all colors are undefined.  This can happen if you have "played with" color settings without knowing what you're doing. Reset everything to defaults!

This basically works correctly out of the box - but a special note if you use Export or Save For Web. Here, the "embed color profile" checkbox is unchecked by default. Once checked, it sticks.

Getting a Mac won't fix your problem. Photoshop works identically on both platforms. You can mess up color settings equally on both.

Start by posting a screenshot of Photoshop's Color Settings dialog.