Lightroom Problem . . .

YankeeMom wrote in post #11649000
when I was done editing the image in LR, it looked pretty good, but when I converted it to a jpeg (what you see in this thread), it's much darker.

It's still unclear to me wether you mean "it IS much darker" or "it LOOKS darker in another viewer because of a different color background."

Compare both images on the same screen, side by side. (Open the converted jpg "on top of" LR)

Also: set the background color lighter in Lightroom.

sharrowm wrote in post #11649335
Are you saying that you see a difference in exposure when viewing the 2 images here on potn?

Yes. Quite a difference.

If you don't, I assume you are using Safari? Or Firefox set to default? Then it would color manage only the second image. The first would be shown as if it had your monitor profile. Which must be quite a bit different from sRGB.

tonylong wrote in post #11649253
It's important to note that once you uploaded them to Flickr, the LR shot does not look underexposed, at least to us. Are you saying that the photos you posted at the beginning of this thread do show this problem, and that you see it on Flickr and in this thread?

Yes, the LR image looks a shade or two darker (under-exposed) compared to the DPP image in this thread and on Flickr. It's odd that I see it this way and others don't!

I opened the jpegs in DPP and they still look dark. In fact, "Tone Curve Assist" even lightened them a bit. Also, I see that the background in DPP is black, too (I thought it was grey), so changing to white in LR won't help.

I didn't see a link, but I do have "Paint", so I'll see if I can do a screen shot (before and after.)

Rimmer wrote in post #11649326
I don't know which OS you have, but If you are running Windows 7 then go to:

Start > All Programs > Accessories >Snipping Tool

I have XP and didn't see this function, but I think I can paste in "Paint."

sharrowm wrote in post #11649335
Are you saying that you see a difference in exposure when viewing the 2 images here on potn? If so I think the difference in saturation might be playing tricks on you. Try concentrating solely on the girl's face and I think you will see there is virtually no difference in the exposure.

René Damkot wrote in post #11651318
Yes. Quite a difference.

If you don't, I assume you are using Safari? Or Firefox set to default? Then it would color manage only the second image. The first would be shown as if it had your monitor profile. Which must be quite a bit different from sRGB.

Interesting! So, some see what I see and others don't? Yes, the LR image is darker -- the face, hair, and even snow in the background.

YankeeMom wrote in post #11651812
so changing to white in LR won't help.

It will prevent you from editing the image too dark in LR...

How does the raw file look in LR? As dark as the exported jpg I presume?

René Damkot wrote in post #11651890
It will prevent you from editing the image too dark in LR...

How does the raw file look in LR? As dark as the exported jpg I presume?

Yes, it's as dark. Sigh. I don't think changing the background in LR will help because it's the same color as the background in DPP and DPP exposures look fine to me.

René Damkot wrote in post #11651318
Yes. Quite a difference.

If you don't, I assume you are using Safari? Or Firefox set to default? Then it would color manage only the second image. The first would be shown as if it had your monitor profile. Which must be quite a bit different from sRGB.

I viewed them in both Chrome and IE and I see no difference in the exposure. Very odd

Kristin -
I think you are confusing the issue (and the other posters) by bringing DPP into the discussion. LR and DPP do not produce identical jpgs and they never will, so leave DPP out of the equation. As I understand you, your problem is that an image as previewed in LR's Develop module is different (in luminousity) when exported. Am I right? If yes, the problem can have two possible causes. Either the jpg is being viewed in another application that is improperly displaying it or the file itself is being improperly rendered by LR during exportation. The first possibility can be ruled out by importing the jpg back into LR, preferably with it in the same folder on your HD, going to the Library module, Grid view, selecting the CR2 and the jpg and clicking on the X/Y icon on the tool bar. The two files will be displayed side by side. It would be nice to see a screen capture of this, but you could also just tell us what you see.

tzalman wrote in post #11652335
As I understand you, your problem is that an image as previewed in LR's Develop module is different (in luminousity) when exported.

That's not how I read it

So, yes. Confusing

Post 1

Post 6

tzalman wrote in post #11652335
Kristin -
I think you are confusing the issue (and the other posters) by bringing DPP into the discussion. LR and DPP do not produce identical jpgs and they never will, so leave DPP out of the equation. As I understand you, your problem is that an image as previewed in LR's Develop module is different (in luminousity) when exported. Am I right? If yes, the problem can have two possible causes. Either the jpg is being viewed in another application that is improperly displaying it or the file itself is being improperly rendered by LR during exportation. The first possibility can be ruled out by importing the jpg back into LR, preferably with it in the same folder on your HD, going to the Library module, Grid view, selecting the CR2 and the jpg and clicking on the X/Y icon on the tool bar. The two files will be displayed side by side. It would be nice to see a screen capture of this, but you could also just tell us what you see.

OK, I'll try that. Maybe Windows Picture Viewer just doesn't see LR conversions the same. I won't compare DPP to LR, I'm just saying that what I see in my DPP edits is what I get when I do the conversion. That is not happening with LR.

I could be a monitor profile thing -- DPP and Lightroom handle display profiles differently by default -- have you calibrated your monitor and set DPP to use the actual profile? If not it will be set to "sRGB" which will come out differently than Lightroom, leading you to apply things a bit differently in LR. That could be what you're seeing.

tzalman wrote in post #11652335
Kristin -
As I understand you, your problem is that an image as previewed in LR's Develop module is different (in luminousity) when exported.

That's the way I've understood the OP's dilemma.

One note, when you import the jpg that was exported from LR make sure there aren't any develop settings/presets automatically being applied. On the import window there is an option to apply develop settings on import, make sure it's set to 'none' otherwise the imported jpg may look different to the adjusted CR2 file in LR based on the settings being applied.

Another thought, is there any way further adjustments could have been made to the CR2 file in LR after exporting the jpg making the two images different?

tzalman wrote in post #11652335
As I understand you, your problem is that an image as previewed in LR's Develop module is different (in luminousity) when exported.

This is what I was getting out of this as well, and honestly, I think we're all missing one important step here... final output.

Kristin, have you printed any of your JPEGs from LR? How do they appear different when viewed alongside a print from a JPEG out of DPP? Do you use any sort of color calibration? In the end, calibrating your monitor, and creating print profiles for whomever you use for printing is paramount to making sure things are kosher. The reality of it is that, unless your final product is a slideshow on your computer from your monitor, what you see on the screen isn't as relevant as what the final print looks like. Even an inexpensive calibration tool can work wonders.

And, as another poster mentioned, JPEG conversions will almost never be the same between DPP and LR (or any other two apps, really). In fact, LR2 and LR3 have some (slight) differences between JPEG outputs from my experience.

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I have to admit that this problem seems way beyond my skills and understanding. I am not very experienced in PP and have only used DPP until now. I do see that, even there, I am not getting EXACTLY what I see in DPP when I convert, but the changes are minor. With LR, they are pretty severe -- all of my conversions are, at least, 2 shades darker (or under-exposed) compared to how it looked when I edited them. When I load the under-exposed jpeg back into LR, it looks right again, so it looks under-exposed when I view it in Windows Picture viewer and on my Flickr site. This is not going to work for me, so unless I figure it out, I will have to stick with DPP or try PS.

As for calibration, all I can say is that I have developed several photos that were edited with DPP and they look exactly like what I see on my screen. When I look at the photos of others here on this board, I see what everyone else sees. If colors are "off", I see them as off the same way. The same with exposure, sharpness, etc.

So . . . I may be getting a new computer in the near future and maybe that will help, but in the meantime, I will put LR off. I'm bummed, because I really wanted access to new and better tools, but it's no fun if the final product doesn't represent my work. Hoping it all comes out right when I print up isn't good either.

Thanks again -- you guys are great!

Just a thought, why don't you compare the histograms between the photos. I normally use the histograms and RGB level indicators to determine if my exposure is where I want it since the light levels in my office change dramatically throughout the day and night.