Photoshop CS2 help

[Point-N-Shoot]

{edit}--The problem explained below has already been corrected. You can read the
"what, why, & how" on pages four and five of this thread (if you're interested).



My photos view VERY washed out (cool) in Photoshop CS2. I am having a hard time making adjustments because I have to save the file and open it in ACDSee or Microsoft Picture Viewer to see what the REALLY looks like. For instance...red colors that appear perfect while in PS end up almost blooming when I ope the file in ANY other (non-Adobe) program.

Is there a setting or adjustment in PS to correct this?

I'm using Windows platform with an NEC MultiSync 22" CRT monitor on an NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra, and I've update the drivers for both my monitor and graphics card.

Thanks

[PacAce]

Has you monitor been calibrated and profiled? What color setting options are you using for PSCS2? Most problems I've seen here and elsewhere regarding color discrepancies between PS and the other Windows applications are almost always due to the monitor not being calibrated or the PS color settings not being set correctly.

[tim]

Your color profiles will most likely be wrong - once you get out of photoshop things are best in sRgb, I bet you're in adobe RGB or another space. Save an image using "save as", 500px wide is plenty, and attach it to a post so we can take a look.

[Point-N-Shoot]

Has you monitor been calibrated and profiled? What color setting options are you using for PSCS2? Most problems I've seen here and elsewhere regarding color discrepancies between PS and the other Windows applications are almost always due to the monitor not being calibrated or the PS color settings not being set correctly.


No, I have not had my monitor "calibrated and profiled". Is that something that is dependent to using Photoshop? My monitor seems to show colors accurately in every other program (at least to other monitors and prints).

As far as "color setting options" I'm not sure what you mean by that. I guess its whatever the default setting is because I didn't manually change anything after installation of the software. Where would I find that setting?

[Point-N-Shoot]

<snip>Save an image using "save as", 500px wide is plenty, and attach it to a post so we can take a look.


Here is one example. The photo looks very different in PS, skin tones appear gray, and the red letters in her uniform are much cooler, but once its out of PS they seem to glow!!

Is it just MY monitor, or does anyone else seem to think the reds are over-saturated?


http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/color_sample.jpg

[coreypolis]

here the whole thing looks a bit desaturated, like its in adobe 1998 instead of srgb. reds are find, skin tones are pretty flat

[Point-N-Shoot]

here the whole thing looks a bit desaturated, like its in adobe 1998 instead of srgb. reds are find, skin tones are pretty flat


So HOW do I get it in "srgb"??

[coreypolis]

save for web or edit-convert to profile srgb

[tim]

Your image is in adobe RGB, without a profile embedded. In photoshop assign the profile Adobe RGB, then convert to sRgb, then save as JPG again. If you shot RAW convert them from RAW to JPG again with the sRgb profile embedded.

You need to read this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0321267222?tag2=headphonerevi-20). Get you monitor calibrated too.

Until you understand color management i'd suggest setting camera, RAW converter, and photoshop to sRgb.

[catsith]

open edit tab and chose colour settings down the bottom, that brings up your options for colour settings.

[Point-N-Shoot]

My color settings are set to "North America General Purpose 2"...do I need to change that??

I dont shoot in RAW...is that important?

[tim]

It should be sRgb. Here's my color settings, ignore the name "Queensberry" at the top it's just a name I gave it when I saved it. Be careful to get the check boxes the same, so it warns you when color profiles don't match.

I'm pretty sure your camera's set to Adobe RGB. Before you post to the web or take images into a non-color-aware application you have to convert (not assign) the sRgb color profile. Edit -> convert to profile.

[Point-N-Shoot]

Here is mine...

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/adobe_settings.JPG

[tim]

Change your color management policies settings to match mine, especially the check boxes. That way you'll get warnings about color profiles if there's a mismatch.

[Point-N-Shoot]

OK, I did the profile thing like you did, but I still see a MAJOR difference between PS and ACDSee on the same photo. Check it out...


ACDSee

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/ACDSee.JPG




Photoshop

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/photoshop.JPG


See what I mean?

[René Damkot]

Well, your image is Adobe RGB (can tell by the file name) and photoshop displays it as CMYK. Something very wrong here.
My PS settings (For an AdobeRGB workflow.)
edit: Tim; you really shouldbe using 'Perserve embedded profiles' instead of 'Off' in the Color Mgmt policies, specially if you don't have all profile mismatch boxes ticked....

[tim]

OK, I did the profile thing like you did, but I still see a MAJOR difference between PS and ACDSee on the same photo. Check it out...

See what I mean?

I think you did it wrong: assign adobe RGB, then convert to sRgb.

Well, your image is Adobe RGB (can tell by the file name) and photoshop displays it as CMYK. Something very wrong here.
My PS settings (For an AdobeRGB workflow.)
edit: Tim; you really shouldbe using 'Perserve embedded profiles' instead of 'Off' in the Color Mgmt policies, specially if you don't have all profile mismatch boxes ticked....

Thanks for the tip. I set it up how Queensberry Albums said to, but that makes sense.

[Point-N-Shoot]

*sigh* I give up....I've done everything as you've suggested with the profile, but I'm still getting these results




http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/adobe&acdsee.JPG






The picture on the left is using Rene's profile exactly.


WHY are ALL my pictures so washed out in Photoshop no matter WHAT I do??

[tim]

I think you need to bite the bullet and get the book I recommended on the previous page. It'll take you a few days to read, so if you have an immediate deadline you better get some help locally.

I'll PM you my email address, i'll take a look at your full size file.

[René Damkot]

Hmmm.
In the first screenshot, you opened in PS, then converted to CMYK. Any reason?
The second screenshot, the image is displayed using the working space. If you set AdobeRGB as working space, it should look fine.
I downloaded the first image you posted. If I open it in PSCS2, I get a missing profile warning. If I assign Adobe RGB, it looks okay, nothing like the PS screenshot you posted.

[tim]

PEBKAC

[Point-N-Shoot]

Hmmm.
In the first screenshot, you opened in PS, then converted to CMYK. Any reason?

It automatically converted to CMYK when I converted using Tim's profile settings...I dont know why.


The second screenshot, the image is displayed using the working space. If you set AdobeRGB as working space, it should look fine. I downloaded the first image you posted. If I open it in PSCS2, I get a missing profile warning. If I assign Adobe RGB, it looks okay, nothing like the PS screenshot you posted.


It should, but it doesn't. I got the same error, so I assigned it to Adobe RGB 1998 (the only choice I was given with "RGB" in the name). It did NOT change. Then I converted it to the working profile shown below...still NO change.

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/color_profile.JPG




Could my CS2 software be corrupted??

[Point-N-Shoot]

Well, I've ruled out a problem with my 20D...here is a photo taken with my Olympus 3030 (once again, the pic on the right is in ACDSee)...


http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/photoshop2.JPG

The blacks and blues seem to be undersaturated in ALL my photos regardless if I assign a color profile or not. I just dont get it.

[Point-N-Shoot]

Well, its NOT my photographic ability either. Here is a stock photo from Adobe's OWN Lightroom opened in PSCS2 and ACDSee...


http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/photoshop3.JPG


My CS2 software must be screwed up...it looked PERFECT in Lightroom.

[In2Photos]

Try resetting all your defaults in PS. I think you hold Shift +Control+Alt while opening PS. You have to select it from the start menu though, not the shortcut on the desktop.

[tim]

I have a few of Daves images, straight from the camera. Two have an underscore as the first character of the filename, which indicates the Adobe RGB color space, but the odd thing is they have no embedded profile. I just checked my 20D, it always embedds a profile. Are you sure the images you sent me are straight from the camera? The skin tones are very white in that, and I don't see an easy way to fix them. The third image you sent was in sRgb, the colors look good in that.

[rfreschner]

I'm no expert on color management, but just looking at your example: your image in PS is set to CMYK color not RGB. Look at the title bar right above the image where it says ( CMYK/8 ).

Edit: Change (CMYK/8) so I don't get the smiley. Plus - looks like I didn't hit the refresh before posting an answer because this ground has long been covered.

[In2Photos]

I have a few of Daves images, straight from the camera. Two have an underscore as the first character of the filename, which indicates the Adobe RGB color space, but the odd thing is they have no embedded profile. I just checked my 20D, it always embedds a profile. Are you sure the images you sent me are straight from the camera? The skin tones are very white in that, and I don't see an easy way to fix them. The third image you sent was in sRgb, the colors look good in that.
I thought the underscore meant RAW, not Adobe RGB.

[tim]

I thought the underscore meant RAW, not Adobe RGB.

Nope, underscore means adobe RGB. I have RAW files starting with I and _. Go try it :)

[rfreschner]

Two have an underscore as the first character of the filename, which indicates the Adobe RGB color space, but the odd thing is they have no embedded profile. I just checked my 20D, it always embedds a profile.

That's strange Tim. I was looking through the manual to see if there were any obscure settings that could be causing the OP's problem and it says that the profile is not appended to the image. I shoot only RAW and assign the image in conversion and have the profile warnings shut off in CS2 so I can't say one way or the other.

[tim]

I checked with a 20D, the profile is always embedded in the JPG - sRgb or Adobe RGB. As most people here know (but i'll say in case anyone doesn't) RAW doesn't have a color profile until it's converted to another format.

[rfreschner]

I checked with a 20D, the profile is always embedded in the JPG - sRgb or Adobe RGB. As most people here know (but i'll say in case anyone doesn't) RAW doesn't have a color profile until it's converted to another format.

Yeah, I knew about the RAW part and why I assign it in ACR, but it's strange how Canon says in the 20D manual that they don't put the append the profile when they do. Mind you, I'm not questioning you on it, just find it weird.

[In2Photos]

Nope, underscore means adobe RGB. I have RAW files starting with I and _. Go try it :)
Well, what do you know.:D I guess I changed the colorspace on the camera at the same time I switched to RAW.

[tim]

Not embedding a profile would be pretty silly... a JPG without a profile's pretty useless, unless perhaps you assume sRgb. I'm not sure append is quite the right word, assign or convert are the words I most often use when talking about profiles. Let me recommend again the color management book I linked to the first page to anyone who wants to understand about color management.

[rfreschner]

Let me recommend again the color management book I linked to the first page to anyone who wants to understand about color management.

You've mentioned that book a number of times in other posts and I've been waiting to get it until I have a bit of time to actually read it. Should be soon I hope.

[René Damkot]

It automatically converted to CMYK when I converted using Tim's profile settings...I dont know why.
It shouldn't: In Tims settings color management policies are 'OFF'.

It should, but it doesn't. I got the same error, so I assigned it to Adobe RGB 1998 (the only choice I was given with "RGB" in the name). It did NOT change. Then I converted it to the working profile shown below...still NO change.
There are more choices if you go to the third option ('Assign profile') and click the arrow next to the presented profile: You get a drop down menu.
Idea: What are your ACR settings. Possibly you don't embed a profile there?
Allthough that would not explain the color issues, it would explain why there is no profile...
What is your output profile in ACR?

Could my CS2 software be corrupted??

Possibly. I'd rule out other possibilities first though...

[Point-N-Shoot]

<snip> Are you sure the images you sent me are straight from the camera? <snip>.

Well, I took the CF card out, placed it in the reader, and copied & pasted the files to my hard drive. I did not manually change the names or attributes of the files in any way. However, the numbering system of my files have been all screwed since I used my friends 10D to upload the photos in my card to his Mac.


<snip>What are your ACR settings. Possibly you don't embed a profile there? <snip> What is your output profile in ACR?

I'm sorry, I dont know what "ACR" is...and I'm at work today, so I have no access to PSCS2.

[rfreschner]

Idea: What are your ACR settings. Possibly you don't embed a profile there?
Allthough that would not explain the color issues, it would explain why there is no profile...
What is your output profile in ACR?

I'm sorry, I dont know what "ACR" is...and I'm at work today, so I have no access to PSCS2.

ACR is Adobe Camera Raw - only comes into play if you're converting RAW images. In some of your examples, you are using JPEG files and in another I saw a NEF, which is Nikon RAW (I think) and that would imply using ACR to show it in PS unless you converted it elsewhere first.

[René Damkot]

It did NOT change. Then I converted it to the working profile shown below...still NO change.

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/color_profile.JPG



Just making sure one thing: These are your color settings. Changing these does not change your document profile. It only tells PS what to do when opening a document.

To change a profile, go Edit -> Convert to Profile or Edit -> Assign profile, depending on what you want to do: Roughly speaking: Converting when you want to change your profile, but leave the image looking the same, Assign when you don't have a profile attached and want to tell PS what it should be.

In the lower left corner of your document (where it now says: Doc: xxMb/xxMb') there is an arrow. Click that, and go Show -> Document Profile.
That way at least you'll know what profile is used for the document...

[Point-N-Shoot]

<snip>in another I saw a NEF, which is Nikon RAW (I think) and that would imply using ACR to show it in PS unless you converted it elsewhere first.

That photo is a stock photo from Adobe Lightroom...they give you a bunch of examples to play with. I have not yet shot in RAW mode...but as you can see by using the stock photo example the issue is NOT with my camera, or the way I'm saving my files.

I can download any picture off the web (or CD or whatever) and open it in the two programs...and I guarantee you it will be desaturated in PSCS2 compared to any other program. I'm thinking about uninstalling CS2 and doind a fresh install...unless my copy is somehow corrupted.

[Point-N-Shoot]

<snip>Roughly speaking: Converting when you want to change your profile, but leave the image looking the same, Assign when you don't have a profile attached and want to tell PS what it should be. <snip>..

I've "assigned" and I've "converted" and (unless I'm doing it wrong) I've seen NO difference in the image quality...all pics are still washed-out. Being that as it may, I am getting the message here that all my images should be profiled...

So what IS a "profile" and why is it important?? (Reader's Digest version please).

[René Damkot]

Some reading here (http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/untagged-rgb.html).
See if I can find a more basic explanation...
Edit: Not really. Wikipedia says this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_management).
Some more links in the article.

Basically, a color profile tells the computer 'what the numbers mean': If you have got a patch of color that is represented by R,G, B values of for instance 156, 10; 30 it will be some shade of red. What shade exactely is depending on the colorspace.

In all (8 bit) colorspaces RGB values range from 0, 0, 0 to 255, 255, 255, but a certain numerical value will represent a different color in a different color space. (For instance: there are some shades of green that can be represented in Adobe RGB, but not in sRGB)

The computer translates these values to a certain output on the videocard, using the monitor profile as well.

If you display the same image on a different computer, that will also 'translate' these RGB values using its own monitor profile. Therfore the colors will look the same on each screen. Voila; color management.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Point-N-Shoot]

Actually that makes perfect sense to me, thank you.

Will that same profile ensure that pictures print the same on different printers (if paper, ink and output were the same)??

[René Damkot]

In that case the 'translation' would be done using the printer profile. (And that would be different depending on printer, ink, paper used etc.)
Biggest difference here is, that there are some colors which are visible on the screen, but which are impossible to print. Therefore the computer (or rather: you) should decide how to handle conversion.
More on conversion en rendering intent: here (http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/color-space-conversion.htm)

[René Damkot]

Found an easier-to-read link. Canon CPS (http://www.cps.canon-europe.com/articles/technical.jsp).

[Point-N-Shoot]

Try resetting all your defaults in PS. I think you hold Shift +Control+Alt while opening PS. You have to select it from the start menu though, not the shortcut on the desktop.

Well I did as you suggested. It asked if I wanted to delete the settings file and I clicked "yes". This is what I'm still stuck with, and its frustrating the living **** outta me...

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/photoshop4.JPG

Once again, the photo on the right is in ACDSee. Her jacket in PS looks GREEN fer chrissakes!! WTF?? GRRRRR

[tim]

Send me that file, the one that looks green in PS to you and fine in ACDSee. Don't change anything before you send it.

[Point-N-Shoot]

There are more choices if you go to the third option ('Assign profile') and click the arrow next to the presented profile: You get a drop down menu.
<snip>.

The only choices available (as far as RGB) are sRGB, Adobe RGB 1998, Apple RGB, or Color Match RGB...I dont have just a plain "Adobe RGB" choice, am I supposed to??

[Point-N-Shoot]

Send me that file, the one that looks green in PS to you and fine in ACDSee. Don't change anything before you send it.


Tim, I just read your post...I send it to you tonight when I get home from work.

[In2Photos]

The only choices available (as far as RGB) are sRGB, Adobe RGB 1998, Apple RGB, or Color Match RGB...I dont have just a plain "Adobe RGB" choice, am I supposed to??
Adobe RGB 1998 is what is meant when people refer to Adobe RGB.

I am following this closely as I would love to know what it takes to resolve your problem. Sorry that I can't help, though.

[René Damkot]

I'm awaiting the outcome as well... You can send me the file as well if you want.
Another Site (http://www.colormanagementinfo.com/page1/page13/page13.html) with loads of color management info and PS settings. Quite good actually...

[rfreschner]

I'm awaiting the outcome as well... You can send me the file as well if you want.

I as well. I don't think the file is the issue, as the OP had the same issue with a sample image that came with Lightroom.

[KenAdams]

Have a look at this link, which follows from a one posted earlier:

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/srgb-versus-adobe-rgb-debate.html

it describes the symptoms you have (3 paragraphs below the 2 gamut images, to be exact), and the explanation for why Adobe vs sRGB colour spaces are different is so clear even a novice like me followed it. It makes a lot more sense to me.

Thanks everyone for all the usefull info in this thread, I love this forum!

[Point-N-Shoot]

Well, I found the problem (other than I'm fu*king stupid)...and "PacAce" solved it in the very first reply to my post.

I was under the (mis)assumption that Adobe Gamma was an automatic profiling script within PSCS2...not an actual program that you have to run through. I discovered this on an Adobe forum, ran through the calibration and —voilà!— immediate color improvement.


Here is the AFTER pic...

http://www.harleypeople.org/ubb/uploads/00000001/photoshop5.JPG

Still a bit off, but WAY better than before. It will be even better once my Monaco Optix XR arrives.


A BIG thanks to Tim, Rene, and everyone else for all the input (and the education about the importance of color profiling...I'm going to buy that book, Tim).

I must second the sentiments by Ken...this is a GREAT board with some really great people!!

Dave

[rfreschner]

Well, I found the problem

Glad to see you finally got it resolved Dave.

[tim]

I'd be interested to hear if anyone can explain why this solved the problem. I have a few ideas but i'm not 100% sure.

[rfreschner]

I'd be interested to hear if anyone can explain why this solved the problem.

I was wondering the same thing too Tim, as I would expect a calibration issue would affect the view for all programs not just CS2. But, I wrote it off as me not knowing enough about Adobe Gamma and how it interacts with CS2.

[tim]

I was wondering the same thing too Tim, as I would expect a calibration issue would affect the view for all programs not just CS2. But, I wrote it off as me not knowing enough about Adobe Gamma and how it interacts with CS2.

I'll PM an expert to give us an opinion.

[In2Photos]

Well, I found the problem (other than I'm fu*king stupid)...and "PacAce" solved it in the very first reply to my post.

I was under the (mis)assumption that Adobe Gamma was an automatic profiling script within PSCS2...not an actual program that you have to run through. I discovered this on an Adobe forum, ran through the calibration and —voilà!— immediate color improvement.

Still a bit off, but WAY better than before. It will be even better once my Monaco Optix XR arrives.


A BIG thanks to Tim, Rene, and everyone else for all the input (and the education about the importance of color profiling...I'm going to buy that book, Tim).

I must second the sentiments by Ken...this is a GREAT board with some really great people!!

Dave

Glad you figured it out Dave. Just wait 'til you see the results after you calibrate. For me is was like night and day.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone can explain why this solved the problem. I have a few ideas but i'm not 100% sure.

I was wondering the same thing too Tim, as I would expect a calibration issue would affect the view for all programs not just CS2. But, I wrote it off as me not knowing enough about Adobe Gamma and how it interacts with CS2.
Same here. I thought Adobe Gamma affected any and all viewing but perhaps it only affects Adobe products.:confused:

I'll PM an expert to give us an opinion.
Let us know what you find out.

[tim]

Let us know what you find out.

I sent a PM to UncleDoug, he's got more experience in his little toe than the rest of us combined.

[Point-N-Shoot]

I'd be interested to hear if anyone can explain why this solved the problem. I have a few ideas but i'm not 100% sure.


Here is how it was explained to me...





Native Windows XP color management is rather rudimentary. Vista is supposed
to have better builtin color management capabilities and Microsoft did
release a color managemment app to extend XP but I haven't used either so I
can't comment on them. Windows color management is based on the premise that
applications and users shouldn't have to know about color management. Just
use untagged images and let the OS and the hardware do the work. And, that
works fine if all you want is sRGB and your hardware is reasonably close to
sRGB as well. But, for critical color work and for wider color spaces, you
need more than that. And, that has to be handled by the individual
application.

Non-color managed applications don't do anything with respect
to the monitor profile or embedded profiles. Color management aware
applications may convert embedded profiles but may assume the generic sRGB
for the monitor and ignore any supplied monitor profile -- it will vary by
specific application. Fully Color Managed applications, such as Photoshop,
use the embedded profiles and the monitor profile assuming you have
appropriate color management settings. If you have two Adobe color managed
applications and you see the same image appearing differently in each, you
most likely have different color management settings in each -- you may have
even turned off color management in one.

Let's start with the OS. When you calibrate your monitor and create a
profile for it, two things must happen.

First, the software you used to calibrate the monitor should have a loader
program that is placed in your startup folder. For Adobe Gamma, this is
"adobe gamma loader.exe". This loads the profile and updates the contents
of the graphics card LUT (look up table).

Second, the calibrated profile must be associated with the monitor in the OS
and made the default profile. If it isn't, PS won't know to use it. Check
your XP display properties to verify the default profile (look in the
display properties dialog under settings, advanced, and check the color
management tab). Associating the calibrated profile with the monitor does
not load the video card LUT.

These two things seem to be independant in XP. I recently noticed a slight
color shift and tracked it down to the default profile association being
missing. The profile was being loaded and I could see the monitor colors
change when the loader executed and the LUT was updated, but somehow the
default association got deleted and PS was using the standard sRGB profile
for the monitor in lieu of the calibrated one. Adding the association back
fixed the problem.

Now let's look at Photoshop CS2. First go to the View menu and make sure
"proof colors" is not checked. You don't want to confuse things by having
that turned on.

Your default RGB working space is sRGB and your color management policy is
to preserve embedded profiles. That's fine. (If you have an image with an
embedded Adobe RGB profile, it will look fine in PS but will appear washed
out in non-color managed application -- but not color shifted like yours
is). It sounds like your issue is being caused by the monitor profile. To
verify this, temporarily change the default RGB color space in CS2 to
"Monitor RGB" -- do this before you open the image. This will effectively
bypass the monitor profile for display purposes and pass the color values to
the display unaltered. If this make the problem go away, you definitely
have a bad monitor profile and you need to recalibrate. By the way, the
Monitor RGB line will show the current profile associated with the
monitor -- it should match the name you gave your calibrated profile when
you saved it. You don't normally want to use Monitor RGB as the working
space so set it back to what you had.

[rfreschner]

Here is how it was explained to me...

So, if I'm reading this right (and there's every reason to believe I'm not :) ), CS2 was using the uncalibrated profile and the other applications weren't?

[In2Photos]

So, if I'm reading this right (and there's every reason to believe I'm not :) ), CS2 was using the uncalibrated profile and the other applications weren't?
That is exactly what I got from it.

[René Damkot]

Yup. PS assumed the monitor profile was accurate, and corrected the output using the monitor profile, but bc the profile was way off, so were the colors. The other apps didn't use the faulty profile for conversion, but sent the file data to the monitor straight, so it appeared okay.

[Point-N-Shoot]

I have not yet had a chance to pick up the book that Tim suggested...but I did find this article VERY helpful (especially with Gamma) if anyone is interested, here is the link...

http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps9_colour/ps9_1.htm

Thanks again to everyone for all the help.

Dave

[RgB]

OK, I did the profile thing like you did, but I still see a MAJOR difference between PS and ACDSee on the same photo. Check it out...



You must have it on Proof CMYK.

Take the proof off and set the mode to RGB.

[Point-N-Shoot]

You must have it on Proof CMYK. <snip>.

Actually, no I dont...that wasn't the problem.

The problem (which was my monitor profile) has been corrected...and you can read why (and how it was corrected) on page four of this thread.

Thanks for the input RgB,
Dave