Where to verify a photo is sRGB?

[tpm123]

How can I open a photo and confirm that it is sRGB? We batch process photos with an action that uses Save for web and devices, which is set to convert to sRGB. Action works great. All photos get converted to jpegs at the size and rez we want, but I can't double-check that they are sRGB?

Thanks,

Tim

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

You can check in Bridge (Metadata) or in Photoshop (Assign Profile or set the Info Panel to display the document profile or …).

[c.pfaffenbichler]

http://forums.adobe.com/message/3465803#3465803

[tpm123]

Thanks for those places to look, I'd forgotten about the metadata in Bridge. Even though we set Save for web to convert to sRGB, info about image just says RGB, with no profile. I thought I could convert to sRGB without checking the ICC profile box; but maybe photo doesn't get converted unless I do so.

Tim

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The conversion can take place but the profile not be attached to save disk-space.

You may have to check your sfw-settings.

[tpm123]

That was our intention; to convert to sRGB but not include the profile. But after doing that, when I get info about image, it says it's RGB. If conversion occured in Save for web, shouldn't get info say sRGB instead of RGB?

[Chris Cox]

If conversion occured in Save for web, shouldn't get info say sRGB instead of RGB?

No, because you didn't choose to save a profile with the image -- it has no colorspace information attached.

As far as the OS knows, it's just RGB data without any specific colorspace associated with that data.

[tpm123]

Chris,

Thanks for the reply. I thought that a profile wasn't necessary, because

only properly profiled monitors and color managed web browsers would

benefit from an embedded profile. But if these photos will be used on an e

commerce web site, is it better for us to check the ICC profile box in

save for web? Or another way of asking this is; if there is no embedded

sRGB profile, will photo still looks the same to those who view it online?

We appreciate your help,

Tim

[Guest]

You can exclude the profile for non-color-critical images such as user interface elements. Such elements require a small file size without the handful of KB added by profiles. You would include the the color profile if your image is color-critical (ie: you are selling shirts, lipstick, artwork, etc... where the customer's choice may be based on color).

[tpm123]

Thanks Marian,

We are spared that more demanding workflow; ours are industrial tools and

supplies.

I always thought sRGB was a separate color space like LAB, RGB, or CMYK.

And like an image in those color spaces, the photo is still cmyk whether a

profile is attached or not. But when I ask Save for web to convert to sRGB

but don't check the box to include ICC profile, the resulting conversion

appears to remain RGB. Maybe it really is an sRGB photo, even though the

color mode says RGB when I "Get info" about the photo.

[Chris Cox]

No, sRGB is just one possible RGB definition.

AdobeRGB(1998) and ProPhoto RGB are other common RGB definitions.

The color MODE is RGB.   The color SPACE is sRGB (or others I have mentioned).

Think of a measuring cup.  It is always measuring volume, but you don't know what the lines on the cup mean until you associated it with a specific measure (cups, teaspoons, liters, etc.).

RGB says that the primaries are additive, and approximately Red, Green and Blue. The Colorspace tells you which Red, which Green, which Blue, how they add together, how the values are encoded (gamma), etc.  The colorspace is what gives meaning to the numbers.

[tpm123]

We appreciate the help.

Thanks.