"Hazy" image with raw conversion but not jpeg or raw preview

[dphoto]

Hello all,

Well, I have some images here that I shot in raw mode (using digital rebel) that look "hazy", and I can't seem to fix them. What's strange is that the shots I took in jpeg mode look fine. What's even more strange is that the previewer I use to view the raw images (Windows IrfanView) does not show them as being hazy (a bit over saturated, but not hazy). The images only look hazy in the PS CS raw converter and in any program after they've been converted to jpeg mode. I'm going to include a sample of each in hopes that someone can give me some help on how to get that haze out of my converted raw images. I've shot in raw before and did not have the problem, and IrfanView does not see the haze, so hopefull I can fix this. Here are the samples:

Similar image shot in jpeg mode:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/color-3319-jpg.jpg

Image shot in raw mode then converted to jpeg in PS CS:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/color-3345-crw.jpg

Screen shot of IrfanView previewing raw mode file:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/color-3345-irfan.jpg

I know everyone has a different idea of how saturated an image should be, but all that light that you see reflecting off of black clothing makes the whole image look dull and washed out. I'm tried message with the color temperature and tint, but that doesn't seem to do enough.

Any ideas of how I can fix this? I would really like to make some prints from these raw images, but they just doesn't look good enough. I can upload a link to a raw image if someone wants to take a crack at the original raw image to see what they can do. I've tried color temp, saturation, levels, curves, contrast... I just can't seem to get this.

Thanks a lot for any suggestions,
-Deva (pulling hair out!)

[kawter2]

I think the reason you get more contrast in the others might be the color pallate.

does irfan view support ADOBE RGB?

[dhbailey]

Irfan is extracting the small jpeg which is embedded in the raw file, not the actual raw file itself.

[PacAce]

Tell us what your PSCS raw converter settings are set to when you do the convert. And what color space are you using for PSCS itself?

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Post a larger version of the image - it's hard to tell much from the tiny one you have posted.

Regards,

[dphoto]

Hey guys,

Thank you so much... you pointed me in exactly the right direction! This looks to be a color profile issue. Ugh,and I thought I was done with those! I can now move on and convert all those raw images I took... but... I'm still trying to understand what happend, and obviously I don't fully understand because I now cannot reproduce the problem. Now, no matter what I do, the image always converts the way I want it. I can no longer get that "hazy" look. That may seem like a good thing, but I have no idea why I can't do that any more, so maybe you guys can help me understand?

Here are the two images for comparison. The following was converted to sRGB color profile and then embedded with the sRGB color profile:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/CRW_3343-sRGB.jpg

The following was converted to AdobeRGB color profile and then embedded with the AdobeRGB color profile:
http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/CRW_3343-AdobeRGB.jpg

This is what's strange: when I was first having trouble, PS CS was using an sRGB color space. All I had to do was change the color space to AdobeRGB and then everything looked great. However, looking at the images I've saved, it's backwards... the sRGB saved image looks good (OK, a bit over saturated and color shifted) and the AdobeRGB image looks washed out. That's backwards from what I was seeing! Maybe converting and then embedding I canceled them out? I think I could understand this, but I just don't. So, trying to recreate the experiment, now I can't get the image to look washed out any more. When I use PS CS, I have the following "Space" options: Adobe RGB (1998 ), ColorMatch RGB, ProPhoto RGB, and sRGB IEC61966-1. No matter which one I use, I can no longer get that washed out image. What's going on? Did PS save something internally that I can now no longer reverse? I really should be able to repeat what I did previously, correct? The raw file is sitting on a CD, so there is no way it was modified while I was playing around. Any help would be appreciated!

Oh, and for anyone who's interested, here's the image using white balance 5250K instead of 7050K as shot:

http://capitalcityphoto.com/tmp/CRW_3343-5250K.jpg

Thanks again for all the help, and dhbailey you were correct about IrfanView extracting the jpg from the raw file. I'm downloading the Canon raw plugins for IrfanView now. :D

If anyone has any suggestions or good articles they can point me to about this color profile issue, I would appreciate it. I'm about to pull my hair out over this!

And thank you again... now I can finally use these images! :D
-Deva

[dphoto]

Ooops! I'm back to being able to reproduce the problem again. You know, I think my eyes had ajusted and the "hazy" image didn't look so hazy any more. That is so weird how that happens.

OK, so when the PS CS raw converted is set to AdobeRGB, the image comes out hazy. When it's set to sRGB, it's fine. Also, when you change the "Space" setting in the raw converted, you don't see the result in the preview window. It's not until you try to convert the next image that you see it. That seems strange.

OK, back to learning, but once again any advice appreciated. Thanks,
-Deva