ICC Profile: Adobe RGB

[cpc1225]

In the save as dialogue box in PS, there is always a check box at the bottom for " ICC profile: Adobe RGB (1998) ".
What is the benefit to check and what is the benefit if not checked, will it affect the saved image in any way?
Your advice will be appreciated. :wink:

[vvizard]

Don't know photoshop too well, but if the default color-space of Photoshop is srgb, then clicking the Adobe-RGB will help you preserve a wider color-space for future post-processing. It will probably make your image looked screwed if you intend to post it as AdobeRGB on the web. So.. Save as *.tiff (or something other lossless) if you want to do post-processing or printing later, or save as jpg in srgb if you want to publish for web. Saving a processed image in AdobeRGB gives no meaning to me.. It gives meaning having your camera store files in AdobeRGB, but post post-processing I can't think of any good reasons for using it. Maybe others here could?

[jimtfoto]

Even though my shots taken on 10D are a different colour space, I convert them to Colormatch RGB in Photoshop. This only because I use an Epson 2200 printer, which recommends that particular colour space.

[maderito]

In the save as dialogue box in PS, there is always a check box at the bottom for " ICC profile: Adobe RGB (1998) ".

What is the benefit to check and what is the benefit if not checked, will it affect the saved image in any way?
Since you are presented with the option of adding the Adobe profile, you must have been editing the image in Adobe RGB (1998) color space. Attaching the ICC profile to the image (i.e. checking the box in the dialog) adds about 1K to the file size. Color managed applications (e.g. Photoshop and printer drivers) may use (or even need) this information to handle the display or printing of the image properly.

Web browsers typically ignore profiles and assume sRGB color space. You therefore would first convert an image for the web to sRGB and omit saving with an ICC profile since it will most likely be ignored. The sRGB ICC profile is also larger - about 3K.

[cpc1225]

Since you are presented with the option of adding the Adobe profile, you must have been editing the image in Adobe RGB (1998) color space.
You are right, I got this when I want to save my file to jpeg after editing my tiff files in Adobe RGB(1998) color space.
These images will be used for creating picture slide show to be viewed on TV via DVD player.
Some of it may be sent to the shop for 4X6 prints upon request.
Some will be added to my galleries on the web.
For the above purposes, is it neccessary to check the box?

[scottbergerphoto]

The 10D does not tag it's files with the Adobe RGB profile. In PS and PSE2, when you save the file, you have the option of saving the profile with the image or discarding it. If you don't check off the box, when you go to reopen the file, it will be recognized as RGB. So when you go into print preview, it will say source: untagged RGB, instead of Adobe RGB. That gives you a smaller color gamut for printing.
I don't believe you will see a difference between the two on a TV monitor, and most photo labs want sRGB. (Maderito, please correct me if I'm wrong).
Scott

[maderito]

You are right, I got this when I want to save my file to jpeg after editing my tiff files in Adobe RGB(1998) color space.
These images will be used for creating picture slide show to be viewed on TV via DVD player.
Some of it may be sent to the shop for 4X6 prints upon request.
Some will be added to my galleries on the web.
For the above purposes, is it neccessary to check the box?
To answer this question requires a lot more knowledge than I have. Here's a stab...

My advice:
-Capture in Adobe RGB
-Save and archive edited images with the Adobe ICC profile embedded.
-Convert copies of the images to sRGB (in Photoshop: Image/Mode/Convert to Profile) for the web and TV monitor viewing.
-For desktop printers, many will handle Adobe RGB or sRGB. You will need to have the profile embedded.
-Ask you local printer how to submit your images - with or without profiles. Some have their own profiles and will supply them for you.

So YES - check the box and save the file with the ICC profile embedded.

More thoughts...

First - I assume you are capturing your 10D images in Adobe RGB (or selecting Adobe RGB during RAW processing) and that's why you're editing in that space.

There are various industry standards for encoding color information for TV (analog, digital, HDTV, etc.). One of the goals of the sRGB color specification was to ensure compatibility between TV and the web. In effect, sRGB it is the lowest common denominator. Thus images created for the web but viewed on systems other than computer monitors should look fine - even if there is no embedded ICC profile.

Some printers can create colors outside the limited sRGB color space. Serious color work destined for printing can take advantage of the wider Adobe RGB gamut. Everyday printing for most users provides very acceptable results using the sRGB color space.

Systems that use color management require that images have ICC profiles. Currently, most monitor-based image viewing environments are not color managed (TV, web) but do require that you prepare your image according to their specifications. That's why sRGB is so convenient -- one size fits all.

Who knows what the future holds. If color management becomes the norm, then typical image reproduction systems will potentially handle your images better if the color space is known via an ICC profile.

Maybe this helps...color management issues can be painful. :?