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TiagoRocha
Inspiring
April 30, 2022
Answered

Save For Web color issue [SOLVED]

  • April 30, 2022
  • 4 replies
  • 10468 views

I have a few questions regarding the Save for Web feature:

 

1 - Why is this feature seen as "legacy"? Assuming that Adobe see it as something that's not supposed to be used anymore, what is the alternative to achieve the same results? The Save for Web window has a lot of useful features besides just messing with the quality of the file to make it smaller. Any tips?

 

2 - When I export a jpg using this feature, the colors are different from the original, even if I select the Embed Color Profile. It seems that it converts the colors to CMYK even though my image is set to RGB. So for example my main color #ccff00 gets converted to #ccfd54. Why is that and how can I change this behavior while still using Save for Web? When I use the normal File > Save As, the color is retained, even if I set the quality to 5 (Medium).

    Correct answer D Fosse

    @Cheerful_amazement5C39 

    There is no bug, and all this is much simpler than some would have it be.

     

    This is what you need:

    • an embedded color profile in the document. This embedded profile will override the working space in Photoshop.
    • a valid monitor profile that accurately describes the monitor in its current state.
    • an application that actually supports color management, and converts correctly from document to monitor color space as defined by the monitor profile.

     

    If you can check these three, the image has to display correctly, by definition.

    4 replies

    C
    Cheerful_amazement5C39
    Participating Frequently
    March 13, 2025

    There is only one solution to this problem anywhere on the internet and that one solution does not actually work.
    Photoshop does not actually work anymore.
    Justr add this to the LOOONNNGGGG list of bugs they aren't even attempting to fix.
    Because the shareholders dgaf, so neither does Adobe.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 13, 2025

    @Cheerful_amazement5C39 

    There is no bug, and all this is much simpler than some would have it be.

     

    This is what you need:

    • an embedded color profile in the document. This embedded profile will override the working space in Photoshop.
    • a valid monitor profile that accurately describes the monitor in its current state.
    • an application that actually supports color management, and converts correctly from document to monitor color space as defined by the monitor profile.

     

    If you can check these three, the image has to display correctly, by definition.

    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    NB, colourmanagementCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2022

     Why do you think that the saved file is CMYK? Are you sure?

    That would be a bug if so. 

    Open your saved image in Photoshop and at bottom  left click the arrow and select the "Document Profile" option

    Here you can see that mine is "Display P3"

     

    Since Save for Web converts to sRGB, your pixel values will change if the originating image was in another colour space, say Adobe RGB perhaps?. That could explain what you are seeing.

     

    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

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2022

    There can be no bug allowing CMYK in Export/Save For Web. They don't support it.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2022

    With a ProPhoto file, Convert to sRGB unchecked, and Preview set to Monitor Color, there will be a strong desaturation that might look a bit like CMYK. I wonder if this is what Danny is referring to.

    The preview will be correct when Convert to sRGB is checked, and Preview is set to Use document profile.

     


    Yes, Monitor Color = no color management. That has always been the default in SFW, which is a bit unfortunate - but luckily, once you change it to "Use Document Profile", that sticks and you don't have to worry about it again.

     

    That rolldown has been removed in Export, but it hasn't been replaced with a consistent policy to either show the color managed version or the un-color managed version. At the moment it's quite frankly a mess, and you have no idea what you're looking at.

     

    The legacy Export version had it right for a while, always showing color managed, but then they broke it again.

     

    In any case, none of this should affect the actual output. As long as you check "embed profile" and "convert to sRGB" you'll be fine.

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 30, 2022

      Save For Web is a very old codebase, and the intention is to replace it with Export. They are both specifically intended for web/screen/mobile devices, not print or archival purposes.

       

      However, Export development has been incredibly slow and erratic, and as long as it's still a work in progress, we should be grateful that Save For Web is still around.

       

      For one thing, the Export preview is still not correctly color managed, even if you check "embed profile". None of them support CMYK, so you can disregard that. If you convert to sRGB from something else, the numbers will change.

       

      All this time, Save For Web has worked reliably and consistently, and I still use it. I just check Export from time to time, to check progress. But it's still not ready.

       

       

       

       

        T
        TiagoRochaAuthor
        Inspiring
        April 30, 2022

        "we should be grateful that Save For Web is still around"

        Yes, I was trying the Export panel and it seems a bit "incomplete" or at least stuff that I'm used to doing with Save for Web, is not present in the Export panel (or maybe I just don't know to get there) such as the option to view the original file next to the optimized one.

         

        "None of them support CMYK, so you can disregard that"

        Yes, when I mentioned CMYK was not that it was converting, but the color itself changes to something similar to when I convert the file to CMYK, hence my mention.

         

        "If you convert to sRGB from something else, the numbers will change"

        I don't think I'm converting it from something else... I think...

        Even though I've been working with PS for maybe 20 years, I never really dove into the deep waters of it (the technical stuff), because all the work I do is pretty much for myself, so I tend to just explore what I truly need, if you know what I mean?

         

        T
        Test Screen Name
        Legend
        April 30, 2022

        1/ Adobe now expect you to use Export instead. They do this, they get bored with part of an app and replace it with something new instead or say "that would be too much work for us to maintain". 
        2/ no conversion to CMYK is done. (a) What is your image colour space, let us know if you don't know how to find out (b) How are you checking the colours exactly? 

        T
        TiagoRochaAuthor
        Inspiring
        April 30, 2022

        @Test Screen Name 

        I believe this is what you need?

        I've never messed with that panel so I would guess those are the default settings...?

        Can you please clarify what you mean by "How are you checking the colours exactly"?

         

        I was looking at the Export panel and it seems that it's missing some features and not being able to see the original file in contrast with the optimized (or maybe, I can't seem to understand how to do it), make the Save for Web the best option to export files, as long as the colors remain the same.

         

        Thanks!

         

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