• Global community
    • Language:
      • Deutsch
      • English
      • Español
      • Français
      • Português
  • 日本語コミュニティ
    Dedicated community for Japanese speakers
  • 한국 커뮤니티
    Dedicated community for Korean speakers
Exit
0

Saving only one color channel

Explorer ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Hello.  I have an Infrared image from which I would like to extract only the red channel and save it as another image.  How can I do this? TIA

 

TOPICS
Actions and scripting

Views

6.9K

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines

correct answers 5 Correct answers

Community Expert , May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Lots of ways. One way would be to duplicate the file, convert to grayscale,  then use apply image and use the original image's red channel as the source to apply to the new file's gray channel.

Votes

Translate

Translate
Community Expert , May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

The safest way is the Channel Mixer, which retains the file as monochrome RGB in the original color space. It will duplicate one channel into the other two. Or simply copy the red channel and paste into the other two.

 

You can always copy a single channel and paste it into a new grayscale file, but then you need to be very careful which grayscale profile you choose, or you will get significant tone curve changes. The reason is that icc grayscale profiles aren't supported anywhere outside Photos

...

Votes

Translate

Translate
LEGEND , May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Use the Split Channels command. You'll end up with three channels, save the Red channel. 

Votes

Translate

Translate
Community Expert , May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Yet another option, with the red channel active/targeted/selected, using Image > Mode > Grayscale will use the R channel and discard the G and B channels:

 

R.png

Votes

Translate

Translate
Community Expert , May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Yet another way would be to use Image > Calculations, with Result set to New Document.

Votes

Translate

Translate
Adobe
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Lots of ways. One way would be to duplicate the file, convert to grayscale,  then use apply image and use the original image's red channel as the source to apply to the new file's gray channel.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

The safest way is the Channel Mixer, which retains the file as monochrome RGB in the original color space. It will duplicate one channel into the other two. Or simply copy the red channel and paste into the other two.

 

You can always copy a single channel and paste it into a new grayscale file, but then you need to be very careful which grayscale profile you choose, or you will get significant tone curve changes. The reason is that icc grayscale profiles aren't supported anywhere outside Photoshop, and so you need to use a profile that matches the output conditions whatever they happen to be. For this reason, I generally advise against grayscale unless you're very confident and know what you're doing.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Use the Split Channels command. You'll end up with three channels, save the Red channel. 

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

But what grayscale profile? You get three untagged grayscale files.

 

In Photoshop you will see them as Dot Gain 15 or 20% because that's the default working gray in Photoshop (if you haven't changed anything). But they won't be seen like that outside Photoshop! Most likely they will be seen as gamma 2.2, at least for screen, which is very different from dot gain 15/20.

 

Which is why monochrome RGB is much safer.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Tag the channel/doc.

The OP asked for just the red channel. That's how to get just that channel data. Now maybe that isn't really what he needs; I can't read his mind nor know what he wants. He says he will paste it into some other documents which may or may not be tagged; we were not told. 

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

I knew someone would have an easier and better way.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

quote

Tag the channel/doc.


By @TheDigitalDog

 

My point was that this will change the appearance, and that may not be what the OP wants. It will look wrong outside Photoshop:

grayscale.png

 

To make it look right outside Photoshop, assign the working gray and then convert to gamma 2.2, which at least has the greatest likelihood of looking right on screen.

 

Or avoid this whole can of worms by keeping the image RGB and use Channel Mixer.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

It should only “look wrong” if tagged incorrectly. The data is the data, the OP at this point wants one specific color channel that exists. He doesn't want a mix of channels AFAIK.

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

It will look wrong because most people have no idea what dot gain is and why it's different from non-color managed representation outside Photoshop. So if they assign, that's what they assign. And it will look wrong outside Photoshop.

 

If they assign Gray Gamma 2.2, it will look wrong inside Photoshop (again, at default settings).

 

The only way to maintain appearance is to first assign working, then convert to gamma 2.2 (or whatever the output is).

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

There are “no peopleoutside Photoshop! There is the OP in Photorshop who wants just the data in the red channel to paste into another document in Photoshop! He doesn't want a mix of channels in Photoshop. 

At least if you read and understand and believe what he asked for. I do.

 


@D Fosse wrote:

It will look wrong because most people have no idea what dot gain is and why it's different from non-color managed representation outside Photoshop. So if they assign, that's what they assign. And it will look wrong outside Photoshop.

 

If they assign Gray Gamma 2.2, it will look wrong inside Photoshop (again, at default settings).

 

The only way to maintain appearance is to first assign working, then convert to gamma 2.2 (or whatever the output is).


 

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

OK thanks all.  Using the info provided I have been able to do it.  Thanks again.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 11, 2022 May 11, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

You did? Mark the correct replies as result...

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 11, 2022 May 11, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Well, I certainly didn't. Just read through to the end 😉

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 11, 2022 May 11, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

I just finished and as result I see 4 fundamental solutions, plus yours 😄

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Yet another option, with the red channel active/targeted/selected, using Image > Mode > Grayscale will use the R channel and discard the G and B channels:

 

R.png

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 09, 2022 May 09, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Yet another way would be to use Image > Calculations, with Result set to New Document.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

All four techniques produce indentical results; use whatever method you desire: 

 

RedChannel.jpg

  • Yet another option, with the red channel active/targeted/selected, using Image > Mode > Grayscale will use the R channel and discard the G and B channels
  • Yet another way would be to use Image > Calculations, with Result set to New Document.
  • One way would be to duplicate the file, convert to grayscale, then use apply image and use the original image's red channel as the source to apply to the new file's gray channel. (note: Bend must be set to normal)
  • Use the Split Channels command. You'll end up with three channels, save the Red channel. 

 

Channel mixer, default doesn't:

NoMatch.jpg

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

Everything should always display correctly in Photoshop, with full grayscale color management.

 

My concern is that most files will eventually be used for something (outside Photoshop). That's when this problem shows up, when color management stops. No other application does color management for grayscale, not even the color managed ones. So it's just like any other non-color managed situation.

 

I feel I'm not getting much traction here, so I'll take a hint and drop it 😉 I just thought it might be useful to be aware of it and take precautions.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

My concern is that most files will eventually be used for something (outside Photoshop). That's when this problem shows up, when color management stops

 

That's true for any image document, as you know; grayscale, RGB, anything. That isn't the topic or question here. Which is why you're not getting traction.

There are four processes that actually accomplish what the OP asked for, some with more steps than others but all that produce identical results. The Channel Mixer doesn't. It isn't (unless you specify an exact setting) providing just the red channel like the others. 

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

OK, one more time: grayscale is different from RGB because no other applications do color management for grayscale. Applications that are color managed, stop being color managed when they get a grayscale file. Even InDesign, to name just one. It just sends the numbers straight to the black plate in CMYK.

 

So it's not equally true for any document. It's much more true for a grayscale document than an RGB document, and that's why you should take precautions. But I'm not twisting anyone's arm 🙂

 

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

OK, one more time: grayscale is different from RGB because no other applications do color management for grayscale. Applications that are color managed, stop being color managed when they get a grayscale file.

 

"All generalizations are false, including this one." -Mark Twain

 

On the left: Photoshop (grayscale)

On the Right: Safari (grayscale). 

 

GrayCMS.jpg

 

On the left: Photoshop (grayscale)

On the Right: Preview (grayscale). 

Need more examples? 

 

Preview.jpg

No other applications do color management for grayscale, really? 

 

We have NO idea what the OP will do after he pastes (and how he pastes) his Red Channel data into another document. 

He can color-manage it. In and out of Photoshop depending on the application of course. 

What will not provide what he asked for is Channel Mixer unless again, you can provide the exact recipe that produces what the other conversions provide.

 

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

What is your working gray in Photoshop BTW?

 

Here's PS and InDesign, with a Dot Gain 15% grayscale profile:

PS-ID.png

The default in Photoshop is Dot Gain 20%, I just used 15% here to exaggerate the difference slightly (15% is the default in the Europe presets).

 

EDIT: actually, Firefox displays it correctly. I have to admit I didn't expect that. So OK, some do and some don't. Can we call that a middle ground? I'd still take my precautions.

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
LEGEND ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

What is your working gray in Photoshop BTW?

 

Doesn't make a lick of difference! 

Last example, Gamma 2.2

In this example, dot gain again, Photoshop and Safari. They match exactly

Dotgain.jpg

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

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
May 10, 2022 May 10, 2022

Copy link to clipboard

Copied

EDIT: oops, didn't read your post carefully. Disregard.

 

Anyway, so it boils down to this: some color managed applications do it, and some don't (like InDesign).

Votes

Translate

Translate

Report

Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines