Lightroom and Photoshop colours

I have a slight problem that I'm sure some of you gurus can help me with. It seems that if I open the same picture in both Lightroom and CS2, the one in CS2 appears darker. Is there any reason for this that you know of?

I notice it when I have finished with a photo in Lightroom and I have got the colours, tone balance, cropping etc just as I want them and then open the file in CS2 for some extra work like cloning and sharpening for example (I still prefer PS's cloning and sharpening). Lo and behold, when it opens in Photoshop, the colours look ever so slightly different and, as said before, the picture looks darker.

Can anyone explain, and help please? Obviously, I would like them to look identical in both programs and see no reason why they shouldn't. I'd be grateful for any pointers.

When you say Open in PS what do you mean? Do you open the file from PS or send the file to PS from Lightroom?

One of the things I think you may be seeing is that LR uses a dark interface so your eyes open up, then you switch to PS and your eyes stop down again, but the photo hasn't changed. Try taking a screenshot from both programs and then in PS crop the screenshot so that only the photo is visible and compare them side by side. Do they look the same?

I have noticed this as well and suggest that in Lightroom, you change the "lights out" and background to middle gray where possible.

Thanks for a very speedy reply! To explain a bit more - after I have exported, say, a tiff from LR to its own folder, I can open that tiff in PS and, if I compare it with the version of it in the Library module in LR, it looks darker. I will try what you suggest (screenshots) but what concerns me is that although the pics might be the same, they appear different on the screen. Before I got LR, I knew that what looked right in PS would print the way I wanted it. Now, if I do the adjustments in LR, I'm not sure - if you follow that reasoning.

canoflan wrote in post #3608242
I have noticed this as well and suggest that in Lightroom, you change the "lights out" and background to middle gray where possible.

Thanks canoflan - I shall try this, but it seems a bit annoying that you have to go to 'lights out' all the time to check the picture!

Check the Colour profile you have selected when exporting in Lightroom. I noticed some differences when exporting to JPG and selecting sRGB for export fixed these. Now exported JPGs for web use appear the same as they do in LR, though I do also notice the big black border effect in LR.

John

I noticed a simular problem when using Lightroom to Photoshop. It was down to the following being on.
Make sure, in your color preferences - advanced that you don't have checked.

Desaturate Monitor Colors By:
or
Blend RGB Colors Using Gamma:

Thanks guys - some more things for me to try!

I've been following Lightroom threads on Nikonians that seems to suggest that Lightroom has its own (very) peculiar ideas of colour.

After trying the Lightroom beta, I have never understood what Lightroom offered that other software did not already offer, so I've never been tempted to buy. It seems an odd mismash of odds and ends with no real purpose to me.

So apart from my experience with the beta version, bear in mind that I've no personal knowledge one way or the other.

It would seem that its just one of the issues that will have to be addressed in an update.

Richard

Very interesting comments, Lowner.

lennythelens wrote in post #3608835
I noticed a simular problem when using Lightroom to Photoshop. It was down to the following being on.
Make sure, in your color preferences - advanced that you don't have checked.

Desaturate Monitor Colors By:
or
Blend RGB Colors Using Gamma:

Lenny - thanks for that. I might be a dummy, but where do I find the preferences of which you speak? (The help files didn't seem to be forthcoming ).

PS: Edit > color settings.

Did you allready try the screenshots In2Photos suggested?

René Damkot wrote in post #3612977
PS: Edit > color settings.

Did you allready try the screenshots In2Photos suggested?

Thanks Rene. I found the settings and both boxes were unchecked, as I was told they should be. I tried the screenshot test as In2Photos suggested and the result was the same ie the PS image looked darker than the LR image.

You could post the screenshots here...
I've used the trial for LR, and never noticed a (big enough) difference (to worry about).

René Damkot wrote in post #3613245
You could post the screenshots here...
I've used the trial for LR, and never noticed a (big enough) difference (to worry about).

Yes, I'll do that. I won't be able to do it today, but it may be helpful for you to see the difference.