Raw import and embedded color profile

Question

Raw import and embedded color profile

Since at least the last RAW support update, all my newly imported RAW files has "+Adobe RGB+" as the embedded color profile.
In my worflow I am trying to always use sRGB. And this +Adobe RGB+ profile is causing me problem since I have to convert them with Photoshop.

It was not like that before.
And there is nothing I can find in the preferences about that.

And it is not a camera setup neither. On my camera (Sony Alpha-700), the only place I can set a color profile is in some jpeg setting. Ad anyway it is not set to +Adobe RGB+. And my manual state that the default color space is sRGB.

Anyone has the same problem? Or any idea what can cause that?

Macbook Pro 17" SantaRosa, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 4Gb

Posted on Apr 6, 2009 3:33 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 6, 2009 4:25 PM in response to Thierry Leveque

Perhaps I misunderstand your question, but raw images don't have a color space. That is why you can adjust the color space of your jpeg files in your camera and not raw files. Not sure what changed to make you think your raw images were sRGB and are now Adobe RGB. Also, not sure how you use Photoshop to "convert" a raw file to sRGB (or any other color space) without converting to a jpeg, tiff, or other format that HAS a color space.

I suggest you import your raw file into Aperture, edit, then export as sRGB in your preferred format. This way you will preserve all your original color information.

Apologies if I totally missed your question.

Dave

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Answer 2

Apr 6, 2009 5:10 PM in response to David Strait

Agreed with David, and also, why use sRGB instead of Adobe 1998 if the colorspace is smaller? check the colorsync utility, and compare both, and u'll see.

Coffee?

Patricio

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Answer 3

Apr 7, 2009 5:10 AM in response to David Strait

Thanks for the comments.

What let me think that my raw files have Adobe RGB as embedded color profile? Two things: First the EXIF-Expended metadata. There is a field called "Profile Name" that has "Adobe RGB (1998)" as the value.
Two, when I edit a photo in my external editor (PS CS4), Photoshop pop me a warning telling me that the embedded profile (Adobe RGB) does not match my current RGB working space. Embedded: Adobe RGB (1998), Working: sRGB IEC61966-2.1.

And why I am using sRGB? Because this is what everybody seems to recommend using. Why use a larger color space if none of my devices support it (monitor + printer)?

BTW: I am using cRAW only. No jpeg at all. And if I export my photos from Aperture to a tiff file for example, the embedded profile is now sRGB (the default setting for all the export presets). But it is not the case when I use edit with external editor...

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Answer 4

Apr 7, 2009 6:34 AM in response to Thierry Leveque

I would configure PS to always convert files to the sRGB color space when opening a new file. The new file that is created in Aperture will then have sRGB, but the Master File will still be RAW and color space has no meaning.

Dave

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Answer 5

Don T

Level 1

31 points

Jun 28, 2009 7:54 PM in response to David Strait

I have the opposite question. For reasons I won’t go into, at the Grand Canyon I chose to reset the global settings on my D300. Surprise #1-at the end of the day I was shooting JPEG-Fine. Why I didn’t notice by remaining photo count, I don’t know. Next day, drive to Meteor Crater, take several shots, drive to Painted Desert, take several more, discover that I’m in the sRGB color space.
Now, I’m shooting RAW 14 bit lossless, so I know that it won’t affect that data. When I export a jpg as a preview or for whatever purpose, I do want to have it be in AdobeRGB. Any advice as to how to make that happen (I do know that if I import into CS3, I can set the default space-I’m referring to other purposes).

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Answer 6

Jun 29, 2009 12:03 AM in response to Thierry Leveque

What let me think that my raw files have Adobe RGB as embedded color profile? Two things: First the EXIF-Expended metadata. There is a field called "Profile Name" that has "Adobe RGB (1998)" as the value.

Digital cameras have private perceptual processing. There is not one RAW model, but as many RAW models as there are makes and models of digital camera with private perceptual processing.

This would have to be checked with Adobe, but Adobe is probably assuming that the colour space Adobe RGB(1998) is so far specified that it can serve as RGB Profile Connection Space.

And why I am using sRGB? Because this is what everybody seems to recommend using. Why use a larger color space if none of my devices support it (monitor + printer)?

Arggh!

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Answer 7

Jun 29, 2009 12:10 AM in response to Thierry Leveque

And why I am using sRGB? Because this is what everybody seems to recommend using. Why use a larger color space if none of my devices support it (monitor + printer)?

Surprise, sRGB is the size and shape of the colour space of a conventional cathode ray tube. ISO 12647 offset printing on coated paper has a larger colour space than sRGB, e.g. output of the colour of pure cyan on the press is not possible as input from sRGB. If ISO 12647 is swapped for a large format inkjet with bright neutral paper, sRGB is a much, much too small colour space for the size and shape of the colour space of the ink/paper. If you cannot define a colour on the input side, you cannot define that colour on the output side.

Open the Apple ColorSync Utility, select the ICC profile for your preferred inkjet/ink/paper combination, select the CIEL a*b plot and Hold for Comparison, and then select sRGB.

/hh

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Answer 8

Jun 29, 2009 8:59 AM in response to Don T

There is an option in the export settings to choose the export color space. Do it there.

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Answer 9

Don T

Level 1

31 points

Jul 1, 2009 5:58 PM in response to William Lloyd

Thank you. That’s exactly what I need.

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