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Chris.S
Inspiring
March 6, 2023
Answered

Photoshop Conversion Options under "Convert to Profile" not updating as expected

  • March 6, 2023
  • 6 replies
  • 6255 views
Question: If I update my Color Settings in Photoshop, then I immediately follow it up with "Edit » Convert to Profile…”  is this dialog box supposed to pick up the Conversion Options (i.e. Rendering Intent), that was applied in the Color Settings? If it is, Photoshop appears to be buggy/inconsistent in this regard...
 
Background: I have specific rendering intents that I want used based on the Color Settings that are selected to ensure that conversion technique is used when converting from sRGB to CMYK. When choosing "Image » Mode » CMYK” it appears to work as expected.
 
Issue: Some of our vendors prefer to use “Convert to Profile…” instead. When using this method, I noticed Photoshop is inconsistent/buggy about whether it will pick up the Conversion Options settings from the Color Settings in this dialog box. It appears Photoshop 2022 did it OK frequently, but now Photoshop 24.1.0 doesn't even attempt to update them after they were updated in the Color Settings.
 
Steps to reproduce the issue:
(Photoshop 23.3.2 vs Photoshop 24.1.0 on Ventura 13.2.1)
 
1. Open any image in Photoshop
 
2. Go to Edit » Color Settings
 
3. Either select a new “Settings” from the list that will update the Intent to something other than the Relative Colorimetric default, or simply change the “Intent” to something different (i.e. Saturation).
 
4. Select OK in the Color Settings dialog
 
5. Go to Edit » Convert to Profile...
 
Expected Result (sometimes):
» In Photoshop 23.3.2 » The Rendering Intent in this dialog box was correctly updated to what I set in the Color Settings (i.e., Saturation)… at least the first time, but not always.
 
Undesired Result:
» In Photoshop 24.1.0 » Rendering Intent does not get updated to what was set in the Color Settings (i.e. stays as Relative Colorimetric)
This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Chris.S
quote
Question: If I update my Color Settings in Photoshop, then I immediately follow it up with "Edit » Convert to Profile…”  is this dialog box supposed to pick up the Conversion Options (i.e. Rendering Intent), that was applied in the Color Settings? If it is, Photoshop appears to be buggy/inconsistent in this regard...

 

The Conversion Options (i.e., Intent, Black Point Compensation) in "Convert to Profile..." will remain synchronized with the corresponding setting in "Color Settings..." as long as it is not changed within "Convert to Profile...". However, once the setting is changed within "Convert to Profile..." it decouples from the corresponding setting in "Color Settings...". This will remain the case until they are once again set to matching entries, upon which, the synchronization will re-couple so that they remained synchronized (but only if it is changed in "Color Settings...").

 

"Convert to Profile" will give you more flexibility to define your own options on an image-by-image basis and a preview for quick review. It also offers options for conversions in the same color mode (RGB: P3 » RGB, multi-channel profiles, etc.) that the Color Settings do not support.

 

On the other hand, if the desire is to consistently pickup the profile and conversion options that are set in the "Color Settings", and that conversion technique is available based on your file (i.e. RGB » CMYK), then "Image » Mode" will consistently convert the file based on what is in the "Color Settings" and is not impacted by what is in the "Convert to Profile" dialog box.

6 replies

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
March 11, 2023

http://digitaldog.net/files/PhotoshopColorSettings.mp4

Photoshop CC Color Settings and Assign/Convert to Profile video

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
    C
    Chris.SAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 15, 2023
    quote

    http://digitaldog.net/files/PhotoshopColorSettings.mp4

    Photoshop CC Color Settings and Assign/Convert to Profile video


    By @TheDigitalDog

     

    You have a gift for presenting/speaking. This is a great tutorial for beginners. Nicely done.

     

    Two edits you may wish to consider...

     

    I'd suggest offering the same advice you provided for untagged profiles (in the first part covering "Assign Profile") for mistagged profiles. Specifically, whenever possible, always first try to get the correctly tagged profile, whether untagged or mistagged. Unfortunately in the industry I've found this can happen more often than you think, especially in packaging where hundreds/thousands of profiles/substrates/finishes may exist that could be drastically different. 

     

    Also, I'd suggest a little more discussion/distinction on Absolute Colorimetric and why a beginner should treat that a bit differently than the other rendering intents than weighing them all pretty much the same. Typically wouldn't use that unless for proofing or a color space that is the same size or bigger with the same white point.

    C
    Chris.SAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    March 11, 2023
    quote
    Question: If I update my Color Settings in Photoshop, then I immediately follow it up with "Edit » Convert to Profile…”  is this dialog box supposed to pick up the Conversion Options (i.e. Rendering Intent), that was applied in the Color Settings? If it is, Photoshop appears to be buggy/inconsistent in this regard...

     

    The Conversion Options (i.e., Intent, Black Point Compensation) in "Convert to Profile..." will remain synchronized with the corresponding setting in "Color Settings..." as long as it is not changed within "Convert to Profile...". However, once the setting is changed within "Convert to Profile..." it decouples from the corresponding setting in "Color Settings...". This will remain the case until they are once again set to matching entries, upon which, the synchronization will re-couple so that they remained synchronized (but only if it is changed in "Color Settings...").

     

    "Convert to Profile" will give you more flexibility to define your own options on an image-by-image basis and a preview for quick review. It also offers options for conversions in the same color mode (RGB: P3 » RGB, multi-channel profiles, etc.) that the Color Settings do not support.

     

    On the other hand, if the desire is to consistently pickup the profile and conversion options that are set in the "Color Settings", and that conversion technique is available based on your file (i.e. RGB » CMYK), then "Image » Mode" will consistently convert the file based on what is in the "Color Settings" and is not impacted by what is in the "Convert to Profile" dialog box.

    TheDigitalDog
    TheDigitalDog
    Inspiring
    March 7, 2023
    quote
    Question: If I update my Color Settings in Photoshop, then I immediately follow it up with "Edit » Convert to Profile…”  is this dialog box supposed to pick up the Conversion Options (i.e. Rendering Intent), that was applied in the Color Settings?

    By @Chris.S

    No. Convert to Profile is totally separate (Mode change would take that setting going RGB to CMYK as set in Color Settings). Convert to Profile should be sticky. It is independent of the Color Settings. 

    Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
      C
      Chris.SAuthor
      Inspiring
      March 7, 2023

      @TheDigitalDog, I don't believe what you state is correct that Convert to Profile is independent of the Color Settings... perhaps what you mean is they can be changed independingly under Convert to Profile, but they aren't completely independent as a change in Color Settings will update at least some of the settings under Convert to Profile when you go back into it.

       

      When you make a change to the CMYK profile in the Color Settings and go back into Convert to Profile, you'll see the default profile under CMYK has changed to what it was updated to in the Color Settings. You of course can change it here, the two are (appropriately) linked to an extent. This can be said of Photoshop 2023 and prior versions.

       

      In the case of the Conversion Options that I'm inquirying about, those appear to be finicky. I've recorded a video (attached) to show how it is behaving differently in 2022 vs 2023 on my machine. In the first half of the video, I show Photoshop 2022 where the Rendering Intent starts out set to Relative Colorimetric under Convert to Profile dialog, then go to Color Settings, change it to Saturation, then go back to Convert to Profile to see that it changed to Saturation in the Convert to Profile dialog as well.

       

      I repeat the process in the second half of the video in Photoshop 2023. However, this time, Convert to Profile does not reflect the update to Saturation that was made in the Color Settings as it did in Photoshop 2022.

      TheDigitalDog
      TheDigitalDog
      Inspiring
      March 7, 2023

      The current version of Photoshop is consistent in how it has always worked: Convert to Profile is sticky! If you set a color space (say sRGB) and Rendering Intent (RelCol) and click OK, open a new document, that's precisely what will be shown next time. This isn't a bug. It's always worked this way. All the options in Convert to Profile will remain the next time you use it. Despite what was set in Color Settings. 

      Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
        C
        Chris.SAuthor
        Inspiring
        March 7, 2023

        @D Fosse, this is a standard conversion from sRGB to CMYK where it appears to be buggy (whether it will pick up the rendering intent under "Convert to Profile" that was set in the Color Settings or not). I have a case open with Enterprise Support.

        D Fosse
        Community Expert
        D FosseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 7, 2023

        It depends on the target profile. Not all profiles support rendering intents.

         

        Standard RGB working space profiles (sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto) do not support rendering intents - or rather, it's hard-wired: whatever you choose, you get relative colorimetric.

         

        Most CMYK profiles, and most RGB inkjet print profiles should support it though. Haven't heard of any Photoshop bugs concerning this.

        C
        Chris.SAuthor
        Inspiring
        March 6, 2023

        Clarificatino... appears to be buggy/inconsistent in Photoshop 23.3.2 as well... last week it wasn't working properly when I tested it as reported above (actually took a video of it then to prove), now when I retried it again (after resetting the Photoshop preferences) it appears to be updating as expected... at least for today.

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