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Mick8888
Inspiring
March 20, 2014
Question

Save For Web: Convert to sRGB vs Embed color profile

  • March 20, 2014
  • 2 replies
  • 31594 views

When saving an image for the web using Save For Web dialogue, everyone seems to be in agreement that you want to check the "Convert to sRGB" box. But what's up with the Embed Color Profile checkbox? I'm assuming I want to check it, but then what profile am I embedding? I would assume the current profile, right? What if the document has a profile other than sRGB? Or will it necessarily embed the sRGB profile since I've got "Convert to sRGB" checked?

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    2 replies

    gener7
    Community Expert
    gener7Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 21, 2014

    When using SFW (Save for Web)

    If you had a document with a color profile of Adobe RGB, and you want that profile to ride along, then you would check "embed profile" to include it.  You would also uncheck "Convert to Profile" or your Adobe RGB profile will be converted to and tagged sRGB.

    Convert means the Adobe RGB color numbers are changed or remapped to maintain the same colors in the smaller target space, sRGB.

    Now here's the funny part. If I have an untagged (no profile assigned) picture in Photoshop and use SFW:

    Checking both embed and convert will tag it sRGB

    Unchecking "embed profile" and keeping "convert to sRGB" checked will leave the document with no profile or untagged.

    If you have an Adobe RGB tag and you uncheck embed, but check convert, you file will also come out "untagged."

    In short:

    Keep both embed and convert checked if you want it sRGB tagged.

    Only uncheck convert if you will be keeping your original Adobe (or other) tagged profile.

    Gene

    Note: I know this because I tried it out on both a Adobe RGB tagged file and an untagged file, something you can do to see for yourself.

    M
    Mick8888Author
    Inspiring
    March 21, 2014

    You would also uncheck "Convert to Profile" or your Adobe RGB profile will be converted to and tagged sRGB

    Do you mean "Convert to sRGB" rather than "Convert to Profile?"? I had done some tests and "Convert to sRGB" doesn't embed any profile...that's why I was confused about the two options.

    I've done some more thinking about this and now I think my original post might be complicating things unnecessarilly...I was wondering what would happen when saving a wide gamut image for the web. But I think if you're saving for the web you're better off working in an all-sRGB mode, so my original question would be moot.

    gener7
    Community Expert
    gener7Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 21, 2014

    I type too fast sometimes. I meant "Convert to sRGB" in the SFW dialog.

    Be sure your original wide gamut file is properly tagged before using SFW.  ProPhoto or Adobe RGB.

    As far as the web goes, it's an sRGB world. Wide gamut images will look dull because sRGB clips out the colors.

    Check both "Embed Profile" and "Convert to sRGB" to embed sRGB in your Save for Web file or it most likely won't get an sRGB tag. These settings will also preserve your colors.

    Chris Cox
    Chris Cox
    Legend
    March 21, 2014

    You should be embedding the profile of the document after the optional conversion.

    But there were some bugs with that a while back.

    And you didn't say which version of Photoshop you are using...

    M
    Mick8888Author
    Inspiring
    March 21, 2014

    I'm using CS4 at this point...hope to upgrade to CC soon.

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