Monitor Calibration and Elements

srmoment
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Posts: 986

Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes

Monitor Calibration and Elements Oct 1, 2020 1:20:12 GMT

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Post by srmoment on Oct 1, 2020 1:20:12 GMT

....so I have a question.....
I recently invested in a top monitor callibration tool (xrite I1Display Plus), ran it and created a colour profile for my monitor. I did this because I have recently had some metal prints come back with poor detail and color, and some of my printed images are darker and with a slightly different color cast (usually warmer).

I am assuming that my default colour profile for my monitor is the xrite profile I created and that when I go into Elements the photos I am working on should show up under that colour profile.
I am not sure what setting I should choose in Edit, Color Settings, 1) No color Management 2) Always Optimize Colors for Computer Screens 3) Always Optimize for printing 4) Allow me to choose.
Under Image, Mode, the selection is RGB color and under Image, Convert Color profile, the Convert to sRGB profile is greyed out, so I assume it is the one in effect.

I am working on a layflat photobook with some of my favorite images, and when I brought an image in to Elements to work on it, it shifted from the xrite profile colors back to colors with a bluer cast to them. Can anyone explain what is happening?
(I should also mention that I use OnOne (as a plug-in) to go into their develop/effects module and use the Soft Proof menu with the gamut warning on. It is here that I can change a profile to that of an external photo company if they have one).

sorry if I confused everyone.........I color confused myself!!!!

Pat

michelb
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Posts: 877

Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes

Monitor Calibration and Elements Oct 1, 2020 20:36:32 GMT

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Post by michelb on Oct 1, 2020 20:36:32 GMT

I am assuming that my default colour profile for my monitor is the xrite profile I created and that when I go into Elements the photos I am working on should show up under that colour profile.

Your photo file generally has a 'document profile', such as sRGB, aRGB (Adobe RGB), ProPhoto or similar.

The color management system insures that a correctly recognized document profile is rendered correctly on your calibrated monitor, using the monitor calibrated profile. If you print your document, you have to select the 'printer profile' associated with the printer, the paper and ink you are using. Your calibrated screen should take advantage of its profile to display the document profile as best as it can. The 'softproof' feature should simulate the rendering on your prints, knowing that not all colour shades you can see on your display can't be render as exactly (brightly, saturated...) as what you see onscreen.

To help you better and keep things relatively simple, we need to know the document profile, which depend on your camera or scanner.

Most devices use the sRGB colour space, which is not a wide one. However it's the most common one and if the document does not provide the information of the exact color space, most devices and softwares assume sRGB.

If you have a pro or prosumer camera, you can select sRGB or aRGB (a wider color space); you can also shoot raw, which is not a photo format, which has no color space, but which only records the intensity of light over each pixel.

You can also receive files with different profiles. A common situation is ProPhoto obtained by the raw conversion with Lightroom or Camera Raw (ACR). So, when editing, check the original profile embedded with the file. However, the wider the color space, the better colour range... or the worst rendering if the editing software thinks it's sRGB!

We also need to know your usual output devices: display, home printer, Web or local print service.

I am not sure what setting I should choose in Edit, Color Settings, 1) No color Management 2) Always Optimize Colors for Computer Screens 3) Always Optimize for printing 4) Allow me to choose.

Absolutely avoid 1) No color Management.

Optimize for computer screen, means assuming sRGB ... if the profile is not known (embedded in the file)

Optimize for printing means assuming aRGB... if the profile is not known (embedded in the file)

Yes, it's important to understand that this choice is either for files without a known embedded profile or from a raw file, which has no profile, since it's raw...

If you shoot raw or if you have the ability to select aRGB on your camera, you can take advantage of the wider color space is you have a good home printer or if your printing service offers that choice.

If you set your choice to optimize for printing, the ACR raw converter will produce aRGB profiles. You can get better prints or even displays (with very good monitors). However, the same image will appear dull if displayed on most current displays which have no color management.

Elements can recognize many embedded profiles other than sRGB or aRGB (even ProPhoto) and work internally on those profiles. Your calibrated monitor will make the most to render them correctly. However, if you want to 'convert' to other profiles for specific printing needs, your only choices are sRGB or aRGB, which is a wise choice in my opinion.

Under Image, Mode, the selection is RGB color and under Image, Convert Color profile, the Convert to sRGB profile is greyed out, so I assume it is the one in effect.

Absolutely correct.

Note: for more learning about color management, have a look at the side from Andrew Rodney, the digital dog.

www.digitaldog.net/

Michel B.

Windows Win10- PSE6 -10 - 12.1,2019 to 2022 Elements+ - Faststone - Canon 20D Sigma 17/70mm. Canon 50/1.8 Tamron 90mm macro - Fuji X100S, Lumix TZ6.

srmoment
Senior Forum Member

Posts: 986

Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes

Monitor Calibration and Elements Oct 1, 2020 22:27:04 GMT

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Post by srmoment on Oct 1, 2020 22:27:04 GMT

Thanks again Michel! I have looked at quite a few videos on color management, but will check out the digital dog explanation too.
Unfortunately, the print company I have used doesn't want to release their print (paper) color profile, so I am using the SRGB color space.
For my metal prints, I am going to try Bay Photo as they do release a color profile and also have a Satin finish which is not so glarey (ahaha not a word). I did hear, however, that a satin finish can obscure details in a metal print and as that is part of a metal print's charm - the 3D dimensional effect, I am not completely sold on a satin finish.
I have an Olympus EM1-MarkII camera (...of course the future of Olympus is now up in the air, but that is a whole other issue!)

Last Edit: Oct 1, 2020 22:29:27 GMT by srmoment

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Post by srmoment on Oct 1, 2020 1:20:12 GMT

Post by michelb on Oct 1, 2020 20:36:32 GMT

Post by srmoment on Oct 1, 2020 22:27:04 GMT