Verifying Color Space

[Replytoken]

For some reason, I believe that the answer to the following question is going to be quite obvious to me when somebody points it out, but here goes. Is there a way, both within Lightroom aas well as outside of Lightroom, to determine the color space that is attached to an image? I am assuming it must be somewhere in the metadata, but I cannot seem to find it.

--Ken

 

[Kiwigeoff]

If it is a raw file it has no colour space until one is assigned.
ProphotoRGB is used within LR and when you export you choose what colour space to assign at that time.
Jpeg files are assigned within the camera and although LR will still use it's internal colour space what is assigned will be the widest space that can be seen, so if you have sRGB in camera, sRGB is the best for export as there will be no more colour in the file.

 

[Replytoken]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the reply. The parts that you covered I have under control. My issue is with files that I may have exported in JPEG format a while ago, or JPEG files that somebody presents to me for inclusion in a catalog. How can I determine what color space has previously been assigned to these "unknown" files?

--Ken

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the reply. The parts that you covered I have under control. My issue is with files that I may have exported in JPEG format a while ago, or JPEG files that somebody presents to me for inclusion in a catalog. How can I determine what color space has previously been assigned to these "unknown" files?

--Ken

Ken, I don't have LR in front of me at the moment but I do think it shows in the metadata.

 

[Ralph Tomaccio]

Outside of Lightroom, you can easily determine color space on any file in Photoshop.

Look in the lower left corner of the document window. To the right of the percentage is a pop up menu. Click on the triangle and select "Document Profile".

 

[Brad Snyder]

Phil Harvey's Exiftool is also excellent, and freeware/donationware, if you don't have PS handy.

Snippet of a sample AdobeRGB JPG attached:

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the reply. The parts that you covered I have under control. My issue is with files that I may have exported in JPEG format a while ago, or JPEG files that somebody presents to me for inclusion in a catalog. How can I determine what color space has previously been assigned to these "unknown" files?

--Ken

Ken, why does that matter?? That has me lost. I have been lost before - many times !!:shock::shock::roll:
When they are in LR they can be exported with any space and when they are imported LR will assign prophotoRGB to work with anyway.

 

[Mark Sirota]

On a Mac, you can tell just by looking at the file info (Command-I in Finder). I assume there's a similar way on Windows?

 

[Replytoken]

Ken, why does that matter?? That has me lost. I have been lost before - many times !!:shock::shock::roll:
When they are in LR they can be exported with any space and when they are imported LR will assign prophotoRGB to work with anyway.

Again, you are correct (that's why I keep coming back here). Its when they are outside of LR, or when the file is not going to be imported into LR, that I am concerned.

What prompted this broader inquiry was a file that I exported as sRGB, and then printed at a Kodak print kiosk. Normally these prints look fine for casual use as sRGB is the lowest common denominator. This image had problems, and while I believe it was the printer that needed calibration, I also began to wonder if I messed up on the file export and wanted to verify the file's assigned color space. Thus, my line of inquiry.

As I do not use Photoshop, that option does not work for me (mentioned as a suggestion in Ralph's post). I do use Picture Window, and that will tell me, but it is not quick to read the file into the program, and it is not installed on all of my machines. I will take Brad's suggestion and look at Phil's program.

--Ken

 

[Brad Snyder]

I assume there's a similar way on Windows?

You'd think so wouldn't you? If there is, I haven't encountered it in my travels.
But if there is, I'm eager to hear it.....

 

[Denis Pagé]

What prompted this broader inquiry was a file that I exported as sRGB, and then printed at a Kodak print kiosk. Normally these prints look fine for casual use as sRGB is the lowest common denominator. This image had problems, and while I believe it was the printer that needed calibration, I also began to wonder if I messed up on the file export and wanted to verify the file's assigned color space. Thus, my line of inquiry.

--Ken

Ken, I entered this forum last year with the very same problem.That was my very first post: Here is the original thread. This was solved by not minimizing embedded metadata at export... 8)

 

[Nikimathew]

verifying correct display profiles in Photoshop for dual monitor set-up?

If you reconnect a second monitor while computer is asleep you may need to open the displays preferences/ color to ensure that the right profile is being used - that is my experience. I also tend to check that it is using the correct profile for each display, since I move my powerbook between three different additional displays and it can get confused.
(one at my desk, one at my digital camera, one at home - all profiled)

-------------
Nikimathew

 

[Replytoken]

Ken, I entered this forum last year with the very same problem.That was my very first post: Here is the original thread. This was solved by not minimizing embedded metadata at export... 8)

Interesting thread, Denis. Thanks for posting the link.

--Ken

 

[Replytoken]

If you reconnect a second monitor while computer is asleep you may need to open the displays preferences/ color to ensure that the right profile is being used - that is my experience. I also tend to check that it is using the correct profile for each display, since I move my powerbook between three different additional displays and it can get confused.
(one at my desk, one at my digital camera, one at home - all profiled)

-------------
Nikimathew

Nikimathew,

Your post seems a bit off topic. Did you mean to post this as a new thread?

--Ken

 

[Bigbs4]

Too bad we can't work in the edit module with icc profiles so I don't have to keep exporting and soft proofing in PS with the proof viewing option. Is there a way to do this?

Most of my images that need more than just basic adjustments are exported to PS using droplets, so everything is automated.

As for Nikon hardware, I have played around with both Adobe RGB and sRGB and have found the smaller color space of sRGB to cause less gamut problems when working, exporting, and importing bewtween LR and PS.

I am confused about the ProPhoto color space. If a RAW image was shot in sRGB in the camera, does it stay in sRGB upon import to LR or is it converted to ProPhoto? There needs to be a way to keep the color spaces of the camera, LR and PS the same so we are not having to adjust the image when it's exported and imported between the programs.

 

[Mark Sirota]

I am confused about the ProPhoto color space. If a RAW image was shot in sRGB in the camera, does it stay in sRGB upon import to LR or is it converted to ProPhoto?

The in-camera color space is irrelevant for raw files. It ends up just being a metadata tag, like in-camera sharpening, contrast, or any of the other settings used to control the in-camera raw conversion.

The exception is that it is used by the camera to create the preview shown on the back of the camera, as well as the histogram displayed by the camera. But these are irrelevant once you get to Lightroom.

 

[Bigbs4]

Doh! RAW images! I should have thought of that. If they were a set color space, that would defeat the purpose of shooting a RAW file. Thanks!

 

[kwdaves]

There is a "Color representation field" in Vista image Properties/Details. All of my Jpeg's dating back to 2''' have "sRGB" or "RGB" in that field. None of my Jpeg's exported from Lightroom with RAW as the source have that field filled in.