Why so washed out? (SAVE for WEB)

07/07/2008 08:24:25 PM · #1

I know this has been asked and suggestions given, of which I've tried the suggestions but...
every time I get a beautiful, richly colored shot in CS2 and I try to save for web...it immediately gets washed out. I'm getting frustrated as it is effecting all of my shots and no one sees them as I create them.

I'm running CS2, the proof setup is srgb, what is there left to check?? It's almost not worth uploading anything anymore as it isn't what I see, so I have to GUESS at what it will look like to others and that "ain't cuttin' it".

I'm really getting frustrated. Shouldn't they be fairly close?

Message edited by author 2008-07-07 20:26:57.

jeger

Canon EOS-5D

07/07/2008 08:30:43 PM · #2

See if this helps...

Previous Thread

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

07/07/2008 08:34:39 PM · #3

Thanks tons for the help. I followed Brad's directions, and it isn't sticky and doesn't save (as I just realized.) I DID this, but to no avail.

sigh!

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

07/07/2008 08:37:51 PM · #4

I'm assuming you've read the assortment of threads on the topic....but....Is your monitor calibrated? With a hardware calibrator? When you're editing, is your document profile set to sRGB? If not, you're converting to sRGB before you do the save for web, right? (CS2 doesn't do this for you, you have to do the conversion yourself.) The most common reason that images get washed out when saving for the web is because your working profile is AdobeRGB. CS2's save for web just strips the profile off the image, without doing any conversion. That'll cause any image to look washed out.

Another thing that can be happening is that the image is just fine, but your fully calibrated monitor has a narrower gamut than sRGB. When you are working, everything is fine, because PS is adjusting the colors, but when SFW strips off the profile, you suddenly find that your colors look like caca. It happens in the reverse with wide gamut monitors. When I do SFW, everything goes fluorescent. I ignore it, and chalk it up to the wide gamut monitor. When I look at it later at work, everything's fine.

edit: I type too slow, problem already solved...

Message edited by author 2008-07-07 20:38:30.

07/07/2008 08:44:40 PM · #5

actually, no Ann....thank you...problem NOT solved. I'm in srgb... profile is when working. proof setup is set to srgb...guess I'll have to trust what it looks like WITHOUT fixing how it appears in sfw...but how do you enter a challenge when you can't trust what you are seeing?

I have not used a hardware calibration tool. I do use the EZ TUNE calibration software that came w/my monitor, but that's the best I have at the moment.

Guess I'll have to trust CS2 and move along. That just goes against the control freak in me, muahahahaha!

Message edited by author 2008-07-07 20:44:55.

jeger

Canon EOS-5D

07/07/2008 08:53:47 PM · #6

Do you lose the colour when you "Save As" as opposed to "Save For Web"?

I find the colours look better without saving for web. Saving with a lower quality (about 8) gives you similar results. Best of all, the exif data is not stripped when you use this method.

I realize this is not a solution to your problem, but I'm just trying to help any way I can.

Ken

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/07/2008 08:59:03 PM · #7

Originally posted by bergiekat:

Set your proof setup to monitor. That will essentially turn off color management in PS and show how the picture will look on a typical monitor with no color management.

07/07/2008 09:01:55 PM · #8

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

Originally posted by bergiekat:
actually, no Ann....thank you...problem NOT solved. I'm in srgb... profile is when working. proof setup is set to srgb...guess I'll have to trust what it looks like WITHOUT fixing how it appears in sfw...but how do you enter a challenge when you can't trust what you are seeing?

I have not used a hardware calibration tool. I do use the EZ TUNE calibration software that came w/my monitor, but that's the best I have at the moment.

Guess I'll have to trust CS2 and move along. That just goes against the control freak in me, muahahahaha!

Set your proof setup to monitor. That will essentially turn off color management in PS and show how the picture will look on a typical monitor with no color management.

Hmmm, I'll try that.

Originally posted by jeger:

I'll try this also...so just save (as jpg, but not Save for web??)

Message edited by author 2008-07-07 21:03:43.

jeger

Canon EOS-5D

07/07/2008 09:09:52 PM · #9

Originally posted by bergiekat:

I'll try this also...so just save (as jpg, but not Save for web??)

Correct.

File->Save As

I'm not sure it will fix your problem, but I just thought it might be a short term solution until you figure out the real issue.

07/07/2008 09:19:07 PM · #10

thanks all...I'm posting a bunch tonight and you can tell me how they look to you!

kleski

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/07/2008 09:33:35 PM · #11

Just a FYI in case you've tried all this stuff....

My proof setup is in CYMK and seems to work fine. Oddly enough my image mode is RGB.

jjusa

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/07/2008 09:35:23 PM · #12

Originally posted by mad_brewer:

Yep. This should solve your problem.

Intelli

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

07/07/2008 09:36:05 PM · #13

Can someone explain the difference between all these different color spaces and why we have different color spaces?

I know my camera gives me the option to shoot in Srgb or Adobe RGB.. and I have it on srgb.. but I don't know why =)

Edit: I'm sure I can look it up somewhere..but I figured since we are on the topic..I would let you smart people do your thing:)

Message edited by author 2008-07-07 21:37:09.

jjusa

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/07/2008 09:38:49 PM · #14

Originally posted by Intelli:

Color space is basically the range of colors that can be produced. sRGB will have less of a color range than Adobe RGB. However, on the internet, sRGB is all that can be seen anyways I believe.

Intelli

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

07/07/2008 09:40:52 PM · #15

Originally posted by KelvinC:

Color space is basically the range of colors that can be produced. sRGB will have less of a color range than Adobe RGB. However, on the internet, sRGB is all that can be seen anyways I believe.

What?! so I should be shooting in adobe rgb and just go ahead with the "convert to srgb" for web images?

07/07/2008 09:44:15 PM · #16

ok, I changed my proof setup to monitor rgb (only monitor choice)...I shot all in srgb, so I then tried Johnathan's suggestion about saving...

Please take a look and tell me if they look totally washed out on your monitors. Most look vibrant and not so blah on mine, but that isn't saying anything!!

If this doesn't work...we'll try setting proof setup to CMYK...sheeeeesh!
Thanks kids for the help! ;} Hugs....(now, where's the dang wine...)

Message edited by author 2008-07-07 22:26:46.

Ken

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/07/2008 10:22:19 PM · #17

The key here is to see if they look the same for you when you save for web. What I would do is leave your picture open in PS and then open it up in a browser. Flip back and forth and see if there's a difference. If not, problem solved.

At the resolution we post at, save for web is a good option, as opposed to "save as".

Unless you have a good reason to have your colorspace set to CYMK, I would leave it at sRGB.

The pictures posted look very good.

jjusa

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

07/07/2008 10:32:59 PM · #18

Originally posted by Intelli:

Originally posted by KelvinC:

Color space is basically the range of colors that can be produced. sRGB will have less of a color range than Adobe RGB. However, on the internet, sRGB is all that can be seen anyways I believe.

What?! so I should be shooting in adobe rgb and just go ahead with the "convert to srgb" for web images?

Probably. lol
That's what I do.

kleski

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/07/2008 10:33:01 PM · #19

looks good on my end

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II