Problems with colour in lightroom

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terribilino

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Here's my question: how is it possible that a jpeg looks so different when opened with two different programs on the same monitor? And how on earth can I do any post processing if I don't even know what colour will come out in the printed version? Here's a screenshot of the picture when viewed in Lighroom:

Image control: Zoom out | Zoom 1''% | Zoom in | Expand / Contract | New window​

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2459868358_'6cd186f73_b.jpg
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And here's how it looks after I save it as a jpeg and look at it using the windows image viewer:
Image control: Zoom out | Zoom 1''% | Zoom in | Expand / Contract | New window​

one.gif
245987'396_6251aaeeaf_b.jpg
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You see my problem? I just got a new Samsung monitor, which was cheap, yes, but why are there such huge differences in the colours when using these two programs? Has anyone else experienced this?
 
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Easy when you have a corrupt video profile. Change it for one like sRGB (not a proper one, but one which will do 'til you profile) or profile it fresh and you should be okay. Canned profiles that come with monitors are often bad and the new Hi Tech uses taht LR puts them to aren't up to snuff.

Virtually 1''% of such pproblems precented here and at Abobe User to User Forums are fixed this way.

Don
 
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What are your specs (aka:signature)? If you can get a little more specific about what and how you sue things, we can help.

Have you calibrated your monitor?

LR is a color managed program (ProphotRGB = melissaRGB). There is extensive info on this issue that can at times be complicated.

Regarding RAW conversion in LR start here
http://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/showthread.php?t=15''

Regarding color management in general anything by Andrew Rodney on working color spaces.
www.digitaldog.net

Adobe has some nice recources
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/prophotographer/

http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/color_managed_raw_workflow.pdf

Hope this helps
 
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That weird coloured histogram is the easiest way to tell it's a corrupted monitor profile, for anyone else with the same problem!
 
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Good idea Brad.

Terribilino, any objections if I use your screenshot as an example?
 
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Lol!

Well, no - as long as you don't ridicule me publicly. If you start a thread like 'Idiots and their problems' I might get offended. But then what I don't know won't hurt me, so do your worst.

The problem is that you and the others who replied to my query are severely underestimating my ignorance. When you talk about a 'corrupted monitor profile', I smile and nod and wonder: Is she saying my monitor is defective? Or is she saying that the monitor is configured in some way so that the colours are all off? What I don't understand is why the two different programs show the picture so differently. If the colours are off, shouldn't they be consistantly off? I mean, even if the LR colours were dead on, the windows image viewer colours would still be very, very different. So if I want to print, I'm never really sure what it is the printer will be printing.

So I suppose I'll simply have to ask: What is a monitor 'profile'? And how can it be corrupted if it is straight out of the box?
 
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terribilino;1387' said:
So I suppose I'll simply have to ask: What is a monitor 'profile'? And how can it be corrupted if it is straight out of the box?
Click to expand...
Because, unfortuanely, that is exactly the problem. Corrupt right out of the box. Most apps don't even use the profile, so you see something okay. LR actually uses it, where even Photoshop does not, unless configured to do so AFAIK.

Your best bet is to get a hardware calibrator (about $9') and do a monitor specific profile or use the by eye software calibration available in the OS.

The are lots of places to find how to do either.

I'm sure VB will go easy on you in her Tip Post (it's her nature!)

Don
 
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terribilino;1387' said:
Well, no - as long as you don't ridicule me publicly. If you start a thread like 'Idiots and their problems' I might get offended. But then what I don't know won't hurt me, so do your worst.

The problem is that you and the others who replied to my query are severely underestimating my ignorance. When you talk about a 'corrupted monitor profile', I smile and nod and wonder: Is she saying my monitor is defective? Or is she saying that the monitor is configured in some way so that the colours are all off? What I don't understand is why the two different programs show the picture so differently. If the colours are off, shouldn't they be consistantly off? I mean, even if the LR colours were dead on, the windows image viewer colours would still be very, very different. So if I want to print, I'm never really sure what it is the printer will be printing.

So I suppose I'll simply have to ask: What is a monitor 'profile'? And how can it be corrupted if it is straight out of the box?
Click to expand...

Victoria has always been very well mannered, and I cannot imagine her doing something so rude as to imply that somebody was an idiot.

Color management is a very complicated topic, even for those who like to delve into the technical. In short, take Don's advice and try to standardize to sRGB until you have a better handle on things. Briefly, it is the common denominator in the world of color.

If you want a somewhat longer, but in no way fully comprehensive, explanation, you need to know many of your problems can be resolved through color calibration. Many LCD monitors tend to run a bit blue out of the box. Calibration software and hardware can help you with this issue. Spyder2 Express and Huey are two affordable hardware/software options to consider if you are interested. If a monitor is properly calibrated, this will take you a long ways toward your prints looking like your screen images, and it will replace your corrupted monitor profile that your OS is currently using to "control" your monitor.

There are some free software alternatives, but they require that you have a good eye. They will take you parrt of the way there, but the above solutions will probably be better at resolving your problems.

Good luck and have patience,

--Ken
 
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Aw, thanks for the compliments guys. I promise to be nice!!!
 
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terribilino;1387' said:
So I suppose I'll simply have to ask: What is a monitor 'profile'?...
Click to expand...
Terriblino, following the answers you received I immediately see that your next question is to be: "Where do I change my monitor profile?" and here it is:

With all windows closed (guessing you are on Windows as you have no signature yet), right-click in an empty space on you desktop and choose "Properties" in the context menu. A dialog box will appear. Click on the rightmost tab labeled "Parameters". Below the rainbow, click the "Advanced" button. Click on the tab labeled "Color management". From there, you can suppress the bad profile and add another one.

Victoria, if not done yet, you may add this info in your tip for those wondering or so new to all this.
 
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Good tip Denis.

Pretty busy with work at the moment, so I haven't had chance to do the tip yet. If someone else wants to get to it first, feel free!!!
 
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Hooray! Thanks Denis (and all the rest of you). I've now figured out what you mean when you say 'profile', which is a good start. I've changed the profile to sRGB Color Space Profile, and now it seems to correspond better to the jpeg viewed with the image viewer. At least it's not sepia anymore. I noticed, though, that there were dozens of profiles to choose from. Did I choose the right one? Here's the new screenshot:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2485477889_a91226de83_b.jpg

.jpeg
a%3E
2485477889_a91226de83_b.jpg


 
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terribilino said:
Hooray! Thanks Denis (and all the rest of you). I've now figured out what you mean when you say 'profile', which is a good start. I've changed the profile to sRGB Color Space Profile, and now it seems to correspond better to the jpeg viewed with the image viewer. At least it's not sepia anymore. I noticed, though, that there were dozens of profiles to choose from. Did I choose the right one? Here's the new screenshot:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2485477889_a91226de83_b.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice to hear Terriblino! :D

But do not celebrate yet. I suggest you read this topic paying particular attention to Mark Sirota's comment.
 
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