Color profile question

PA
Posted By
Peter_Aitken
Aug 18, 2004
Views
206
Replies
6
Status
Closed
When opening images from my digital camera I have the option of retaining the embedded profile or assigning the working profile (Adobe RGB). I understand in theory what this does but I have yet to see any practical effect of selecting one or the other. Is there a reason why I "should" always chose one or the other? Does the choice depend on what I will be doing with the images (printing on an inkjet usually)?

Thanks.

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TL
Tim_Lookingbill
Aug 18, 2004
I found a tutorial that gives a visual of what different color spaces do to an image. This site:

<http://www.planetphotoshop.com/peteback.html>

Scroll down to and click on "Camera RAW Color Spaces".

It is unknown what space digicams actually capture in terms of RGB numbers. It’s all done in the camera’s software.

Assign or leave as is the space that looks the best to you.
L
LenHewitt
Aug 18, 2004
Peter,

It is just plain wrong to assign a profile that does NOT represent the actual colour space of the file – much as is lying <g>

If you have an embedded profile, use it. By all means CONVERT to the working profile, but don’t just ASSIGN profiles willy-nilly!
TL
Tim_Lookingbill
Aug 18, 2004
How does one know off a digicam what color space the numbers actually represent?

There had to be some assigning and converting going on under the hood in the digicam software, right?
Y
YrbkMgr
Aug 18, 2004
Tim,

From what I understand, some cameras allow you to set it, some cameras have a default, and some cameras (like mine) don’t embed a profile.

If the camera doesn’t have specific software allowing settings, then opening in photoshop will tell you – provided you have color management policies set to alert you of a profile mismatch or the absence of a profile.

Peace,
Tony
BB
brent_bertram
Aug 18, 2004
My opinion is that if the "imbedded" profile comes simply from the sRGB EXIF data, it is best ignored, and the best profile to use is the one which yields an image closest to your final desire ( thus keeping editting to a minimum) . If the camera image is actually "tagged" , by all means honor that profile.
I always ignore EXIF data from my older Nikons and assign with AdobeRGB ( or BruceRGB , if the AdobeRGB interpretation is too "florid").
Destination :Inkjet .

🙂

Brent
TL
Tim_Lookingbill
Aug 18, 2004
Referring to the Camera Raw link showing the pics of the vase on a desk, all three shots look equally acceptable. Adobe showing the most saturated green.

So I guess it’s a matter of personal taste over assigning a profile that matches to the data?

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