sRGB vs AdobeRGB for B&W

[steve_l]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

In another thread I got a suggestion to use sRGB for B&W...I think I disagree.

 

Of course, the final B&W image shouldn't care about "color space", but it seems to me that recording the RAW (or even a JPEG) in AdobeRGB would make sense - why not provide as much ability to separate tones as possible?

 

The image is recorded in color first even with in-camera B&W conversion - sRGB would compress some colors to the same gray, while AdobeRGB would allow greater B&W tonal range in the conversion at the limit of the color space.

 

Is that right?

[jrgeoffrion]

I...it seems to me that recording the RAW (or even a JPEG) in AdobeRGB would make sense - why not provide as much ability to separate tones as possible?

 

In RAW, the color space does not affect the data. As such, you can record as you wish and output to your preferred space.

 

The image is recorded in color first even with in-camera B&W conversion - sRGB would compress some colors to the same gray, while AdobeRGB would allow greater B&W tonal range in the conversion at the limit of the color space.

 

Is that right?

 

Yes

[johnastovall]

In another thread I got a suggestion to use sRGB for B&W...I think I disagree.

 

Of course, the final B&W image shouldn't care about "color space", but it seems to me that recording the RAW (or even a JPEG) in AdobeRGB would make sense - why not provide as much ability to separate tones as possible?

 

The image is recorded in color first even with in-camera B&W conversion - sRGB would compress some colors to the same gray, while AdobeRGB would allow greater B&W tonal range in the conversion at the limit of the color space.

 

Is that right?

 

I use ProPhoto for all my work B&W and color unless it's something small for the web.

 

I want the largest possible tonal range.