Photoshop error couldn’t open file TIFF – unsupported color space

PM
Posted By
Phil_Mentesana
Mar 2, 2004
Views
1464
Replies
17
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Closed
When I attempt to open a tiff (ver 6.0) file in Photoshop created on my HP digital sender I receive the following error "Could not open document because the TIFF file uses an unsupported color space". The document does open in the default tiff viewer made by Kodak, which comes preinstalled on Windows 2000. When I open the file and check the properties it is an RGB true color 24bit image.

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Y
YrbkMgr
Mar 2, 2004
it is an RGB true color 24bit image

That’s not the color space though. It sounds like the digital sender (camera??) is embedding a color profile that PS doesn’t recognize. The only thing I can think of to do is to change the parameters of the device creating the image so that it uses a more standard color space.

Examples would be sRGB, or Adobe RGB 1998.

Alternatively, you can try disabling color management in Photoshop under Preferences, then the profile should be ignored.

Peace,
Tony
J
JasonSmith
Mar 2, 2004
It might be yRGB, in which case you need the conversion utility for whatever hardware created it.
PM
Phil_Mentesana
Mar 2, 2004
The HP digital sender 9100c is an office ethernet based network scanner. I spoke with HP and they mentioned that they comply with the TIFF 6.0 stadard. I attempted to shut off color management in Photoshop, but it already was turned off. I am not given an option on the digital sender to change the color space.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Phil
Y
YrbkMgr
Mar 2, 2004
they mentioned that they comply with the TIFF 6.0 stadard

Has nothing to do with the color profile though.

Do this. Find the free program IrfanView. It should view your files and allow you to save or convert the file. I don’t know if it will allow you to strip the profile, but it’s the only thing I can think of.

If the scanner is embedding a profile though, there HAS to be a way to turn it off – at least one would think.

Peace,
Tony
J
JasonSmith
Mar 2, 2004
Color Management wouldnt have anything to do with it.

It’s the color MODE that I suspect is the problem, not the color SPACE.

What version of Photoshop are you using?

HP mentions that it is using Tiff file format specs, fine. But do they say what color MODE the files are that it creates?

Are there any other file formats that HP can save to?
SJ
Sandy_J
Mar 2, 2004
Tony, This is the 2nd time I’ve heard IrfanView mentioned today (never before). A customer supplied a tiff, that when trying to open through Photoshop CS, I got a "new" dialog screen. It opened as a blank white square (the "new" doc I assume). When I tried to delete the extension to force Windows to determine the file type, I was denied access. The employee to whom the file was emailed said she could view it with this IrfanView, and sure enough she opened it and resaved it as a tiff I could open. Surprisingly, the original unopenable one was 2947K and the one she resaved was 1223K. Any idea what the problem could have been?
J
JasonSmith
Mar 2, 2004
It could’ve been in an unsupported bit depth or color mode.
Y
YrbkMgr
Mar 2, 2004
Hard to tell Sandy, but Jason’s guess is what I would have guessed.
PM
Phil_Mentesana
Mar 3, 2004
I am able to convert the TIFF to a JPEG using one of several other programs, but it’s inconvieniant. I will contact HP, but what exactly should I ask them…How to turn off an embeded color profile, change the mode or change to a more standard color space?

I’m using photoshop 7.0.

Thanks for your help.
Y
YrbkMgr
Mar 3, 2004
I am able to convert the TIFF to a JPEG using one of several other programs, but it’s inconvieniant

AND not a good idea. JPG loses quality as you save it.

exactly should I ask them…How to turn off an embeded color profile, change the mode or change to a more standard color space?

You want to turn off the profile embeding or use a standard color space like sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998. The mode won’t help.
L
LenHewitt
Mar 3, 2004
Tony,

You want to turn off the profile embeding or use a standard color space
like sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998. The mode won’t help<<

This error is nothing whatsoever to do with colour profiles, embedded or otherwise, and isn’t a colour management issue. It is much more likely to be a MODE issue and Jason’s guess sounds very reasonable.
PM
Phil_Mentesana
Mar 3, 2004
I spke with HP and since the device works through email they are compressing the TIFF using G4 compression. This compression cannot be turned off and I would guess this is the problem. Other programs like the free Kodak program that comes with Win 2k has no problem opening it so I image photoshop may have a way to open it as well. Is there a way for photoshop to read a G4 compressed TIFF?
J
JasonSmith
Mar 3, 2004
I noticed on Hp’s site that the 9100c can also export as PDF.

Do you not have that option?

Also, if you’re running 7.0, I would run the 7.0.1 update. It wouldnt neccesarily fix this particular problem but it fixes plenty of other issues.
PM
Phil_Mentesana
Mar 3, 2004
Yes, I do have an option for .PFD, but is that a good file type for color images such as pictures? I have applied the patch and there has been no change.

Thanks
J
JasonSmith
Mar 3, 2004
PDF’s are great…they’re as standard as EPS or Tiff.
L
LenHewitt
Mar 3, 2004
Phil,

Is there a way for photoshop to read a G4 compressed TIFF?<<

I believe Photoshop 7x and CS can read, but not write CCITT group 3 and group 4 TIFF files, so it SHOULD open them…
L
LenHewitt
Mar 3, 2004
is that a good file type for color images such as pictures? <<

It is fine, providing the HP isn’t using JPG compression for the PDF, which it may or may not be, although there is a good chance that it is….

That doesn’t mean the image will be noticeably of less quality, however. Best advice is ‘try it and see’.

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