saving Preview annotations color

Question

Level 2

262 points

saving Preview annotations color

Here is a sudden oddity. Preview won't save the colors of my annotations on a JPEG file.

I am working with a black-and-white photograph. I added text and an arrow in bright red. When I saved the file, Preview saved my red annotations in gray.

It is hard to see gray annotations against a black-and-white background. That is why I selected red for the color of the annotations.

I have been annotating in red (and other colors) for years. Today I cannot.

Does anyone recognize the problem?

MacBook Air, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on Dec 29, 2017 7:36 AM

Reply

Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

65,004 points

Dec 29, 2017 8:59 AM in response to R_55a

If preview is corrupted : Enter in user library ( ~/Library ) please use the path > Mac HD > users > Home folder > library > containers > com.apple.preview > data > library > preferences > right click on com.apple.preview.plist and move to trash . Restart the computer & empty the trash .

Reply

Answer 2

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

Dec 29, 2017 9:17 AM in response to BobHarris

Hmm, I have never noticed any difference in the graphical format before. I have always merrily annotated downloaded images without ever having to notice whether they were JPEG or PDF or other. I am not aware of having done anything different this time.

Reply

Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

135,599 points

Dec 29, 2017 8:13 AM in response to R_55a

As a guess, if the jpg is actually a monochrome image I don't see how Preview could save color info to it.

Reply

Answer 4

R_55a Author

Level 2

262 points

Dec 29, 2017 10:40 AM in response to dialabrain

How does one convert a JPEG from gray-scale to color? I looked around in Preview, and the answer was not obvious to me.

Thanks for your assistance.

Reply

Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

135,599 points

Dec 29, 2017 2:50 PM in response to R_55a

You can't do the conversion in Preview. You would need a graphics program such as Photoshop, GraphicConverter, Affinity Photo, etc. If you don't have one and would prefer a free program you could use GIMP or XnConvert.

Reply

Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

135,599 points

Dec 29, 2017 8:27 AM in response to R_55a

FWIW, I took a monochrome/gray scale image and added a red arrow, which as I suspected, turned gray. I then converted the image to 32bit color, added a red arrow and now it saves as red.