Color tones not right

Finally - the bad version. This is what ProPhoto numbers look like when they are interpreted as sRGB-ish. This same result can be achieved by taking your ProPhoto image and ASSIGNING sRGB - essentially forcing PS to interpret the ProPhoto numbers as sRGB.

kirk

That is for sure what I been doing wrong. I want to get this right; When I open from lightroom into PS as a smart object I need to make sure I do my editing as SRBG then when I am finished and I want to save a copy for my database and I also want to save a copy to push up to the internet what is the proper way to do this?

Set LR to export as sRGB. This will do the raw conversion into the sRGB color space and embed that tag in the exported image.

You can select to convert into the sRGB color space from LR in the "Photo > Edit In..." OR from the "Export" dialogs.

kirk

There may be reasons why you would want to make your raw conversion into another color space but, at this point, I would not worry too much about that until you get a better sense of your image processing and output requirements. If you do your raw conversion into another color space, just remember that you ultimately want to convert your final image for the web into sRGB.

kirk

For as long as I have known LR, seven years, this note in the Preferences has made my blood boil. No mention of the facts that (a) the colors are in LR only if they were in the subject (unless you are using LR to create some garish "HDR graphic art"), (b) the colors in 95% of photos will fit nicely inside sRGB, (c) another 4.9% will fit in Adobe RGB and (d) what ProPhoto RGB is usually preserving is a lot of empty (color) space. Moreover, if your output device - printer or monitor or human eyes, for that matter - can't utilize those "preserved" colors, what good are they?

The main reason I started this thread is because I of course want to improve my skills as a photographer, editor with Photoshop & Lightroom but I also feel like my images are missing something. I don't any better way to explain it so here it goes.

My images at www.mgwarrenphotograph​y.com do not look like what I want I cannot seem to achieve the tones, color correctness or output to match others. I don't know what I am missing or how to figure out what I am missing. Some photographers images look very warm and inviting with the vibrance of color but yet not over done or over baked. Skin color looks very smooth but with great detail and the other colors in the image look dead on with color & hue.

Listed below are some links of photographers websites that have this style that I would like to achieve.


Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

As you guys can see I am miles off from where I want to be. I got to keep trying and asking questions to I get where I want to be.

Getting your workflow sorted before you worry about stylistic choices is a good idea, regardless of what kind of style you like or aim to create.

I agree with Elie - I see this "recommendation" in the LR dialog and, while it may be true, it does not actually provide a reason why you would want to adhere to the choice or how you might evaluate your choice based on the image and your output needs.

kirk

Personally I see the choice as valid if you are then going to bring that image back into LR and perform additional editing to it in LR before exporting it. Bar the difference in gamma curve this allows you to do all of your processing without the need for repeated colourspace conversions. I often do additional work in LR that involves making changes to image colours in LR, most notably when soft proofing for different output media. I also do all of my monochrome conversions in LR, there are quite often times when I need to do HSL adjustments to the RAW data and set that as an RGB file before then using the black and white channel mixer. If I try it with the RAW data I cannot both correct the initial colours and then mix the monochrome levels in the way that I want.

I'm also doing this in 16 bit's and that is also far more data than I can actually perceive, after all I'm pretty sure that my monitor is at best only capable of accurately reproducing 6 bits of colour data. This way though I can at least work in the knowledge that I am not having to make conversions until I actually need to. Conversions in either direction, across colour spaces or bit depths can lead to inaccuracies, which may often not be discernible but equally well could be.

I would also recommend that if you do not really understand colour management and do not have a hardware colour profiling device, then simply working in sRGB colour is as safe an option as you can take.

SO USE A COLOUR SPACE OTHER THAN sRGB ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHY YOU ARE USING IT!

Alan

When sending out for print would you leave it in sRGB?

mdaddyrabbit wrote in post #17124726
When sending out for print would you leave it in sRGB?

Depends entirely on your print lab and what they want. The lab that I use the msot supplies their own profiles, which I use. This is for their service that does no corrections to your files. In their literature though they do point out that you should really only use the profiles if you have a properly colour managed workflow. They also state that mostly sRGB is close enough that you are unlikely to see the difference.

Alan

Now, since I have figured out my tones and saving in the right color space can or will anyone help me with my editing as mentioned in the thread attached?

mdaddyrabbit wrote in post #17124481
The main reason I started this thread is because I of course want to improve my skills as a photographer, editor with Photoshop & Lightroom but I also feel like my images are missing something. I don't any better way to explain it so here it goes.

My images at www.mgwarrenphotograph​y.com do not look like what I want I cannot seem to achieve the tones, color correctness or output to match others. I don't know what I am missing or how to figure out what I am missing. Some photographers images look very warm and inviting with the vibrance of color but yet not over done or over baked. Skin color looks very smooth but with great detail and the other colors in the image look dead on with color & hue.

Listed below are some links of photographers websites that have this style that I would like to achieve.


Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

As you guys can see I am miles off from where I want to be. I got to keep trying and asking questions to I get where I want to be.

It is very difficult to critique an entire portfolio. I suggest you post one or two of your images that you weren't satisfied with and ask for suggestions.

That said, I see a wide mix of styles, post-processing, and types of photography on your main page. I suggest that you maybe need to focus a bit more. Color balance seems to be a challenge for you although it is a bit hard to distinguish between a "goof" and an "on purpose" on some of your images.

I heartily recommend that you view some of Zack Arias' critiques on his site. It will take some time but I think you will get some good info there both for your photography as well as your web site in general.

http://zackarias.com …itique_for_phot​ographers/

As an example of a web site consideration, I would recommend using a photo of you on your About page that doesn't look like it was taken at the city jail.

Says his videos have been removed...http://support.blip.tv​/entries/23007795

Eyeball2 wrote in post #17124851
It is very difficult to critique an entire portfolio. I suggest you post one or two of your images that you weren't satisfied with and ask for suggestions.

That said, I see a wide mix of styles, post-processing, and types of photography on your main page. I suggest that you maybe need to focus a bit more. Color balance seems to be a challenge for you although it is a bit hard to distinguish between a "goof" and an "on purpose" on some of your images.

I heartily recommend that you view some of Zack Arias' critiques on his site. It will take some time but I think you will get some good info there both for your photography as well as your web site in general.

http://zackarias.com …itique_for_phot​ographers/

As an example of a web site consideration, I would recommend using a photo of you on your About page that doesn't look like it was taken at the city jail.

Do EVERYTHING in sRgb. As you havne't taken my recommendation to learn how color profiles work, you've just read the few bits people here think you need to know, you need to to everything in sRgb - editing, printing, etc. Also NEVER assign a profile, and until you understand color, don't convert to a color profile either. sRgb is all most printers can do anyway.

I tried to look at the photos on your website but it won't load properly for me in Chrome. A website testing tool says it takes 35 seconds to load your website (results here) - an awful result. IE did eventually load your website. It's hard to evaluate the color as your processing is all over the place, weird effects and such, and even series of images are inconsistent (eg here). Once you get your color sorted I suggest learning exposure, then lighting.

It's not that I didn't take your advice. I haven't been a position to edit anything. I am going to apply what is here this weekend. I will check with Go Daddy on the speed of my site.