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Participant
May 1, 2023
Answered

Whats the ideal workflow for converting 16 bit prophoto to 8 bit srgb ?

  • May 1, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 5530 views

Hi,

 

I have been confused about this for a while. Would really appreciate if someone can clarify this.

 

The following are my workflows:

 

Workflow 1:

1. Edit image in 16 bit prophoto

2. Convert image to 8 bit: image->mode->8 bit

3. Convert to srgb: edit -> convert to profile -> srgb

4. File -> Save for web legacy with embed color profile and convert to srgb checked

 

Workflow 2:

1. Edit image in 16 bit prophoto

2. Image crop and resize

3. Convert image to 8 bit: image->mode->8 bit

4. Convert to srgb: edit -> convert to profile -> srgb

6. File-> save a copy 

 

Please let me know if my approaches are correct. I feel like I am over complicating it

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer defaultvq8ek6mt1ouk

Thanks for you reply. So, just for my understanding, my workflow 2 is the ideal way of doing it for web?

 

Workflow 2:

1. Edit image in 16 bit prophoto

2. Image crop and resize

3. Convert image to 8 bit: image->mode->8 bit

4. Convert to srgb: edit -> convert to profile -> srgb

6. File-> save a copy -> jpeg

3 replies

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 7, 2023

I'd look at a perceptual sRGB ICC profile  if the source image has a significantly wider gamut and details may be lost in the conversion in out of gamut areas. Standard sRGB profiles will clip OoG detail, they will use Relative Colorimetric rendering intent even if Perceptual intent is selected as they lack the Perceptual transformation table. This will potentially have more visual impact than 16 bpc vs. 8 bpc.

NB, colourmanagement
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 2, 2023

Like Digitaldog I'd do the resize manually and perhaps ad da bit of sharpening (unsharp mask) 

 

Starting with the Prophoto edited file

1: archive that edited original (with it's adjustment layers) as a master copy, full size, 16 bit, ProPhoto.

2: make a copy, convert to sRGB (probably best to do this whilst still in 16 bit)

3: resize to the right pixel dimensions for the relevant site. 

4: Unsharp mask as needed

5: Make it 8 bit

5: 'Save as' a Jpeg, I prefer'Save as' to 'save for web' or 'export'.  I like to see what's happening 

 

A note on Jpeg

Jpeg is not OK for archiving or for any file that may need to be resized or cropped down the line. 

Jpeg is the worst possible format if you want to keep high quality - you should always archive a copy of your original, with adjustment layers intact - if that’s how you work.

Jpeg compression (at any setting*) really is "lossy”, irreversible and cumulative, so should ONLY be used only for final delivery AFTER resizing & cropping to the FINAL size and crop.

Why? Any edits to size or crop, or even just re-saving a Jpeg file means further compression, potentially that’s very damaging.

The jpeg damage is not always immediately apparent, which is perhaps why it's still widely used - however, the compression will soon cause issues if you do further work and save again. That’s when you’ll see a jpeg with some real issues.

 

*don’t imagine that selecting maximum quality for your Jpeg is preserving the original data, it's still compressing a lot which discards information.

 

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

Participant
May 2, 2023

Thanks for the comment! I was under the impression that srgb can only be 8 bit. I guess I was wrong. Thanks for clarifying that and also thank you for giving me the idea of workflow.

NB, colourmanagement
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 6, 2023

@defaultvq8ek6mt1ouk appreciate your thanks, have a good weekend

 

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

TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
May 1, 2023

Expect for Image crop and resize; there's really no difference.

Resize in high bit vs. 8-bit per color; sure, but I doubt that will make a difference. I'd let the conversion to 8-bit per color and then conversion to sRGB/JPEG be the last step.

Important consideration: all editing in a wide gamut color space (ProPhoto RGB) and a high bit (what Photoshop calls 16-bit). And yes, save a copy to keep the original high bit, wide gamut, high-resolution data. Spin off the sRGB/8bit per color, JPEG from that when you're ready to supply that for whatever need you have for such a document.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
defaultvq8ek6mt1oukAuthorCorrect answer
Participant
May 1, 2023

Thanks for you reply. So, just for my understanding, my workflow 2 is the ideal way of doing it for web?

 

Workflow 2:

1. Edit image in 16 bit prophoto

2. Image crop and resize

3. Convert image to 8 bit: image->mode->8 bit

4. Convert to srgb: edit -> convert to profile -> srgb

6. File-> save a copy -> jpeg

TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
May 1, 2023

What is ideal for the web is 8-bit per color JPEG (or PNG) in sRGB with an embedded profile. You can save a few steps using the Export (Quick Export as JPG), Or Export As, or manually and if all settings are equal (and that's not easy because of differing values for JPEG quality), the results would be the same.

I'm old fashioned and do this manually: resize to the number of pixels I want (say 1200x1080), convert to sRGB, Save As... JPEG.  

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