CS5 - Color Settings

[Guest WPalank]

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I thought this topic needed it's own thread as it is pretty important.

 

If you got to Edit> Color Settings on a Mac (not sure where it is in Windows or if it applies), CS5 defaults to the sRGB color-space. CS4 did the same thing. If you work in ProPhoto or Adobe RGB you will need to change it manually.

 

Once you save out the image in sRGB you cannot go back and regain your ProPhoto or Adobe RGB color gamuts (the larger spaces).

[01af]

The color setting is not what Photoshop will save your image files in. It just is what Photoshop will consider the default working space. You can still happily load, edit, and save your ProPhoto RGB or Adobe RGB files even when the default workspace is set to sRGB. Photoshop won't silently change your files' profiles to sRGB unless explicitly being told to.

 

So don't panic.

[Guest WPalank]

If you print within the Photoshop application to the latest Epson or HP printers there IS a difference when even the manufacturers recommend the ProPhoto or Adobe 1998 working spaces. However, if your choice is not to have a color managed workflow.....

[01af]

If you print within the Photoshop application to the latest Epson or HP printers there IS a difference when even the manufacturers recommend the ProPhoto or Adobe 1998 working spaces. However, if your choice is not to have a color managed workflow ...

A problem may arise when your workflow is not fully colour-managed. In my workflow, the result depends on the image's actual profile and on the settings in the printer dialog but not at all on Photoshop's workspace.

[Guest WPalank]

The workflow should be dependant on the final Output and VIEWING conditions.

 

Lightroom (Prophoto)> Photoshop with manipulations (Prophoto) >Soft Proofing (ProPhoto) with either Relative Colormetric or Perceptual rendering intents> Photoshop managing colors to print (Prophoto)>Epson 7900 (Prophoto being the recommended working space by the printer manufacturer and several other printers who's work I respect. Then the print is viewed in a measured lighting environment.

Even my ImagePrint RIP suggests Prophoto or Adobe.

 

Using your workflow suggestion, handing off to Photoshop with a sRGB working space results in COLOR shifts compared to when I bring the exact image into Photoshop with ProPhoto working space.

[andybarton]

I am completely underwhelmed with CS5, having upgraded from CS3 this afternoon.

 

For a two digit jump, I MUST be missing something, apart from my filters...

[01af]

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Using your workflow suggestion, handing off to Photoshop with a sRGB working space results in color shifts compared to when I bring the exact image into Photoshop with ProPhoto RGB working space.

You didn't understand a single word I wrote, did you?

 

So I'll repeat it once more: Photoshop's workspace setting is completely irrelevant to your workflow. You can have it set to sRGB (or anything) and still run your ProPhoto-RGB-based workflow through it. Upon loading your ProPhoto-RGB-profiled image, a profile mismatch between image profile and workspace profile will occur. This brings up a dialog box asking you how to resolve the mismatch. You tick "Keep image profile" and continue. As easy as that.

 

Of course it's more comfortable when the working space matches the image profile; it spares you those dialog boxes popping up. And oh, one thing mustn't be done while in a non-matching workspace: Do not switch into Lab or CMYK mode! Because after switching back to RGB mode, your image would end up in the working space which usually is not what you want.

 

 

I am completely underwhelmed with CS5, having upgraded from CS3 this afternoon.

 

For a two digit jump, I MUST be missing something ...

You most definitely do.

 

First, you got a faster and more reliable Bridge. Then you got a much better Camera Raw with improved demosaicing and noise reduction—just try the new noise reduction functions on one of your high-ISO images! And Camera Raw is not even fully there—wait until you see Camera Raw 6.1 (due for update in just a few weeks from now).

 

The improvements in Photoshop itself are less obvious at first sight ... but there's a lot to love. Faster loading. Better printing. Improved Smart Objects and Smart Filters. Improved interface to adjustment layers. Content-aware scaling and filling! The new Lens Correction filter! And more ...

[stunsworth]

First, you got a faster and more reliable Bridge.

 

I never use it. I use Lightroom for cataloguing (or asset management as it's now called)

 

Then you got a much better Camera Raw with improved demosaicing and noise reduction—just try the new noise reduction functions on one of your high-ISO images! And Camera Raw is not even fully there—wait until you see Camera Raw 6.1 (due for update in just a few weeks from now).

 

Which is why I'll probably update to Lightroom 3 when it's released. I'm not sold on CS5 at this point in time.

[Guest WPalank]

You didn't understand a single word I wrote, did you?

 

Upon loading your ProPhoto-RGB-profiled image, a profile mismatch between image profile and workspace profile will occur. This brings up a dialog box asking you how to resolve the mismatch. You tick "Keep image profile" and continue. As easy as that.

 

 

I understood every word and it seems you want to argue for argument sake. Why have a dialogue box pop up every-time? That's why those of us that use color management use the term color managed workflow. We like our system to be streamlined.

 

My guess (and this is not a putdown, simply an observation) that you are a Windows guy. I go crazy looking over the shoulder of my Windows friends as pop up windows abound. Why not just proceed with work as usual?

 

Also, CS5 loads without any of the check boxes activated by default (on a MAC as I stated in my original post. Did YOU understand?), see below:

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

Meaning you have to open the "Color Settings" dialogue box to select the boxes anyway.

 

Also, if there is a mismatch you are presented with a dialogue box (if you take the time to check the correct box) with three choices that on the fly might be easy to check the wrong one.

 

Most photographers that I have worked with and had the good fortune to meet on this Forum PRINT. I guess it was a shout out to them. You are right, I should have been more clear.

 

Since your choice is not to share a link to your own website, maybe you don't have one, let alone the country you live in (As I shared in another thread, anonymous is the new cool here. The wizard hiding behind the purple curtain, smoke and mirrors), I have no idea what sort of work you do?!

 

That being said, yes, sRGB is probably the best working space for you so that you can update your Facebook status, Tweet and get your images directly to your Flikr page. It's just not how the majority of guys I know on this Forum work

[jaapv]

But you can just choose the larger colour space and save the setting, can't you, William? I doubt that there is a discrepancy between Windows and Mac here. I share your concern about inadvertently dropping down into sRGB. However, CS will preserve embedded profiles by default.

[01af]

I understood every word ...

You didn't. You still don't get it.

 

Anyway ... what you're saying now (I mean, apart from those foolish suppositions about me and my work) is quite different from what you said in this thread's initial post so we may consider this issue settled.

[andybarton]

OK, guys... enough is enough. Time to move on, and leave the insults behind thanks

[Guest WPalank]

But you can just choose the larger colour space and save the setting, can't you, William? I doubt that there is a discrepancy between Windows and Mac here. I share your concern about inadvertently dropping down into sRGB. However, CS will preserve embedded profiles by default.

 

Jaap,

Yes, exactly, that is my point. Better to be working in the larger space than inadvertently working in the smaller colorspace.

Also, make sure to check the little boxes so that you are warned of mismatches, etc.

[andybarton]

 

You most definitely do.

 

First, you got a faster and more reliable Bridge. Then you got a much better Camera Raw with improved demosaicing and noise reduction—just try the new noise reduction functions on one of your high-ISO images! And Camera Raw is not even fully there—wait until you see Camera Raw 6.1 (due for update in just a few weeks from now).

 

The improvements in Photoshop itself are less obvious at first sight ... but there's a lot to love. Faster loading. Better printing. Improved Smart Objects and Smart Filters. Improved interface to adjustment layers. Content-aware scaling and filling! The new Lens Correction filter! And more ...

 

I don't use Bridge either and I have never had to remove noise from a high ISO shot ( I use a D700 for digital work and haven't been troubled with noise)

 

maybe I haven't been using PS properly, but I haven't troubled Smart Objects or Smart Filters either

 

Although I am running in 64 bit mode on a brand new Mac with 8 gig RAM, loading is slower than CS3, and I have had the pleasure of watching Adobe's new timing cursor, before it changes to the spinning beach ball. Finally, when using my Leica lenses, I haven't noticed the need for any lens correction

 

I wonder if there is a 30 day trial available? If there is, I would recommend it to everyone before spending £200 on what in other software would be a 0.1 update.

 

Disappointed.

[Guest WPalank]

When making complex selections you can bring up the refine edge which has some really powerful tools for tweaking the edges even in hair and grass. But I'd have to watch the video again.

 

If someone does a lot of portrait work, the new pupeteering function seems more intuitive when it comes to adjusting the size of the eyes or tweaking the lips as opposed to the Liquify Filter.

 

The magnify tool is now a scrubby slider you can click on the image and drag it left or right to zoom out/in.

 

You know how you want to save out a TIFF as a Jpeg but it's not available because you forgot to drop from 16 to 8 bit? Well now it is. It will drop to 8 bit and save out as Jpeg in one fell swoop.

[andybarton]

Dragging a Nikon .neff file to the dock icon of PS CS5 causes the application to hang every time.

 

Distinctly un-impressed. Is this still beta?

[250swb]

You know how you want to save out a TIFF as a Jpeg but it's not available because you forgot to drop from 16 to 8 bit? Well now it is. It will drop to 8 bit and save out as Jpeg in one fell swoop.

 

Fantastic, I didn't know that!

 

I think after a few days with CS5 I'm very happy with the upgrade. ACR has a definite improvement under the hood, and as I prefer using Bridge over Lightroom the whole package has come together as being much slicker. Its subtle things here and there, no barnstorming changes, but then Adobe would have been criticized if it was a whole new experience by people who just want to get on with their day job.

 

Steve

[andybarton]

It refuses to open a RAW file if the file is on a removable disk. If the file is dragged to the desktop, THEN it will open it.

[250swb]

It refuses to open a RAW file if the file is on a removable disk. If the file is dragged to the desktop, THEN it will open it.

 

A DVD disc? I've nothing to test that with, but there are no problems with separate drives.

 

Steve

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[Shootist]

I thought this topic needed it's own thread as it is pretty important.

 

If you got to Edit> Color Settings on a Mac (not sure where it is in Windows or if it applies), CS5 defaults to the sRGB color-space. CS4 did the same thing. If you work in ProPhoto or Adobe RGB you will need to change it manually.

 

Once you save out the image in sRGB you cannot go back and regain your ProPhoto or Adobe RGB color gamuts (the larger spaces).

 

 

Not sure what you are getting at. although I am a bit dense. If you are working with RAW images you make the color space selection in ACR before the image gets opened in PS.

In PS you can change the default color space it works in and have it pop up a warning when you are opening a image that is a different color space.

Yes all PS versions default to the sRGB space when first installed but as said above that can be changed and the change sticks. So it is only a one time setting change you have to make.

If you are then outputting to a JPG for web posting, emailing to someone or giving the images to someone on a CD/DVD it is best to make a action that convert the image from 16bit to 8bit then CONVERTS ( NOT Assign) that image to the sRGB space.

At least that is the way I do it.