Adobe RGB and the Web

[Ian]

When posting images to your gallery, or actually any other web-destine page, it's worth remembering that the standard for image colour space on the Web is sRGB. If you display an image that uses the wider Adobe RGB space, it will look desaturated. I have spotted one or two of these, no names mentioned of course

I think this topic deserves a bit more explanation, so I'll add a short tutorial here later. (OK here it is, including how to convert Adobe RGB to sRGB)

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

When posting images to your gallery, or actually any other web-destine page, it's worth remembering that the standard for image colour space on the Web is sRGB. If you display an image that uses the wider Adobe RGB space, it will look desaturated. I have spotted one or two of these, no names mentioned of course

I think this topic deserves a bit more explanation, so I'll add a short tutorial here later.

Ian

Good plan Ian Of course it could be the pics you refer to were intentionally desaturated

[Ian]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

Good plan Ian Of course it could be the pics you refer to were intentionally desaturated

Ah, no - I'm absolutely sure these were mistakes

Ian

[DTD]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

I habitally forget to do this.

[Ian]

Re: sRGb and Adobe RGB Web comparison examples

As promised, here is my follow up to demonstrate how displaying an Adobe sRGB image on the Web does that image no favours. Below, you can see two JPEG images from the identical RAW original, one exported in the wider Adobe space and one in sRGB (note the skin tone and the vibrancy of the colour of the jacket):

JPEG with sRGB colour space

JPEG with Adobe RGB colour space

You should be able to see that the Adobe space image looks flatter and less saturated than the sRGB one, quite the opposite to one's expectation as the Adobe space image actually has more colour information.

But as Web browsers conform to the sRGB standard, the colour information is not reproduced correctly, in fact the Adobe colour information is incompletely reproduced, hence the disapppointing colour.

As a matter of routine if I'm using a camera that can shoot both RAW and JPEG at the same time, I'll set the JPEG colour space in the camera to sRGB as this can be used online or with the majority of printers (which are also tuned into sRGB rather than Adobe RGB) without any colour problems. If I need maximum quality and the image will be printed on a profiled printer that can make the most of the additional quality that Adobe RGB afford, then I can use the RAW file to produce an Adobe RGB file for printing.

What if you have produced a JPEG in Adobe RGB and you need an sRGB compatible version? The good news is that an sRGB version can be produced from the Adobe version. Basically, the colour is resampled into the smaller sRGB space but mapped correctly.

Below is the Adobe RGB file shown above, converted to sRGB using Photoshop (Edit > Convert to Profile...)

Adobe space image converted to sRGB space

So, to summarise, if you are finding inconsistencies between what you see on-screen in your editing software and on the Web even though your screen is properly set up, it's likely you're displaying Adobe space images in the sRGB world of the Web. It's the same story for printing as most consumer printers and printing services are set up for sRGB images.

Ian

[Andrew Thatcher]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

I also never remember to do this
Here is a sRGB of the Ant and flower

And here the aRGB

*Slaps hands*

[Ian]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

I also never remember to do this
Here is a sRGB of the Ant and flower

And here the aRGB

*Slaps hands*

Yes - not a huge amount of difference with these two, but the yellow in the Adobe RGB version is more lemony than the rich yellow in the sRGB version.

Ian

[lumix]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

I have googled RGB and after many hours of reading I think I understand why it's important to use the sRGB for the web. Now that I know this how do I find out what I am using. There is no mention of it in the setup of my camera or in my particular editing software. As Ian was the one to notice that some others were using the wrong colour space, perhaps he could have a look at my images and let me know if I'm setup right. If I'm not, then could you please advise how you alter it. This may relate to a resent post I made regarding the saturation level of my images. Help Please Ian.

[Ian]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

sRGB is the standard setting for consumer cameras - or at least a default setting if your camera offers Adobe RGB as an option.

If you use Photoshop, you can configure it to check that the colour space of a file you are loading matches that of the colour space chosen by default for editing. If you set sRGB for editing and load an Adobe space image, you will get a mis-match warning.

If your camera takes RAW files, you can choose whichever colour space you want when exporting to JPEG format. So it's a good idea to check what the export colour space is set to.

Ian

[lumix]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

sRGB is the standard setting for consumer cameras - or at least a default setting if your camera offers Adobe RGB as an option.

If you use Photoshop, you can configure it to check that the colour space of a file you are loading matches that of the colour space chosen by default for editing. If you set sRGB for editing and load an Adobe space image, you will get a mis-match warning.

If your camera takes RAW files, you can choose whichever colour space you want when exporting to JPEG format. So it's a good idea to check what the export colour space is set to.

Ian

Thanks Ian for the info but I'm still not sure what I am using. My camera a Panasonic FZ20 does not take RAW, and my editing package is Microsoft's Digital Image. I'm somewhat hopping that they are sRGB by default. Is there any way I can test my images ie is there a programme that will Analise them similar to Exif data. I may be worrying about nothing. Just want to get the most out of my setup.

[Ian]

Re: Adobe RGB and the Web

Thanks Ian for the info but I'm still not sure what I am using. My camera a Panasonic FZ20 does not take RAW, and my editing package is Microsoft's Digital Image. I'm somewhat hopping that they are sRGB by default. Is there any way I can test my images ie is there a programme that will Analise them similar to Exif data. I may be worrying about nothing. Just want to get the most out of my setup.

Hi Ron, sRGB was a Microsoft initiative to start with. Your Microsoft software will operate in sRGB by default, as will your camera. But if you want to be 100% sure, email me a file and I'll check for you.

Ian