colour settings for photoshop users

[sGu]

I'm very curious abt which colour setting do u use for photoshop, and any particular reason for choosing them? there just seems to be quite a few options, and i find it hard to make up my mind.

i also came across the settings recommended by sport illustrated photo site, but i'm just wondering if anyone's used it b4, and is that CMYK mainly recommended for sport events or general purpose?

any tips n help would be greatly appreciated.

[maderito]

This is a big topic. Start here for excellent information: http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps8-colour/ps8_1.htm

Are you preparing images in Photoshop for the web or for printing or both? What printer or printing service are you using, if any?

Could you provide the Sports Illustrated link referring to CMYK. I am only familiar with their recommendation that Canon photographers use Adobe RGB (rather than sRGB).

[sGu]

Mainly my pictures would be printed for magazine use, and i'm not familiar with their printing preference since they r based abroad; also i display my photos on the web. I haven't printed any of my photos personally, but it'll happen in the near future.

here is the link to SI photoshop colour setting: http://www.siphoto.com/?photoshopcolor.inc

[HKMonkey]

I use Adobe RGB (1998) as I have heard it has the widest gamut of colors (From Scott Kelby's book "The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers") and is the best color setting for prints. You'll want to use another setting if you are color-correcting photos for the internet, though. I'm not sure which would be best for that.

[maderito]

Mainly my pictures would be printed for magazine use, and i'm not familiar with their printing preference since they r based abroad; also i display my photos on the web. I haven't printed any of my photos personally, but it'll happen in the near future.

here is the link to SI photoshop colour setting: http://www.siphoto.com/?photoshopcolor.inc
The SI link specifies (1) Adobe RGB as the working RGB color space and (2) an SI specific ICC profile (rather than the default SWOP) for working in CMYK. Thus for images prepared for publishing, SI is asking that CMYK separations be prepared using SI specs. Makes sense.

As a photographer using Photoshop, you would be typically edit images in the RGB color space and perhaps convert to CMYK when asked to submit the image for publication. While editing, you would have to be aware of how the image looks when converted from RGB to CMYK - thus the need for "soft proofing" in Photoshop.

For web work, you would convert your images to sRGB which approximately matches average CRT monitor color spaces.

For your own prints, it would depend on the color gamut and color management capabilities of your printer. sRGB is always safe; Adobe RGB may have small advantages for critical work.

Welcome to the wonderful world of color management. :)

[sGu]

thanks for the tips, links and advice, indeed it's a whole new world of colour, and i'll take my time to digest all these red, blue n greens :)