My pics go flat when imported into Lightroom

[TonyComer]

Hello all,
Hope you can help...See the 2 pics attached.

-The first pic is about (I had to boost color, ect…in PS) what the picture looks like on the back of my camera screen when I take the pic.
-It is also what it looks like when I import into Lightroom and view under the small thumbnail.
-It is also what it looks like when I double click on the thumbnail to enlarge….BUT, when the picture fully enlarges, all the color goes away and it looks really flat. See second pic for what I am talking about

It is doing this on ALL my pictures so I have to go in and boost the color, saturation, ect for each one…

Any idea what is going on? I am shooting in RAW with the Canon 5D II

Thanks....Tony

[timbertoes]

lol, whatever is going on, I'd say lightroom is doing you a favor..
the second picture looks correct.

[rwwright]

i wonder if the special camera settings are carried forward in the raw processor you use. I dont use any settings in my camera, preferring to start with the base and correct in lightroom. I always need to boost saturation and contrast a little. (nikon photographter) which can be done in the standard import process in lightroom if you want

[venchka]

What Bryan said.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by rwwright

i wonder if the special camera settings are carried forward in the raw processor you use. ...

That's what I bet is happening.
I'm not real sure how lightroom works, but in other programs, the preview image and thumbnails are showing you the imbedded jpg. Which means the preview you see has all your camera settings applied.
Then when you open it up for real in lightroom, it just see RAW data and not the Canon settings.

That's how it use to work, but maybe lightroom should read the in camera settings?

Try using the Canon RAW software DPP and see if the same thing happens.
BTW, the 2nd image does look better than the 1st(imho).

[TonyComer]

Thanks...I will give the Canon RAW a try.....Tony

[venchka]

OK, but the photo on the right is the better of the two.

[TonyComer]

I hear ya...Everyone liked the one I called "flat" much better, but I thought it looked awful...Go figure :)

[venchka]

Look at the lack of detail in the photo on the left.

[doctahjones]

are you sure you're shooting raw only?

i bet this is what's happening, this is what happens with my nikon.

i shoot in raw + jpg. my camera settings have saturation and shaprness bumped up, etc.

so, when i view the back of the cam (shows jpg only) it looks more vibrant.

also if i view the jpgs on my computer they look really colorful.

but then when i view the raw in lightroom, it looks "dull" like you say. but this is because the raw doesn't add any saturation/etc like the camera does for jpgs.

[TonyComer]

yep...sure it is just RAW..Small Raw though if that makes a difference?

Lack of Detail...Yes, I agree...I just did a real quick bump in exposure and saturation to in PS to give an example...The pics on the back of the camera and pre important into LR have a ton more detail...

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by timbertoes

lol, whatever is going on, I'd say lightroom is doing you a favor..
the second picture looks correct.

I agree. The first one is way over-saturated with the red channel being blown (no detail).

[rbalcom]

Since the RAW image is unprocessed, the camera displays a processed JPEG whether you save it or not. I'm not sure about the thumbnail in Lightroom, but it is probably the same idea.

Since the RAW image is unprocessed, Lightroom applies a set of default processing when you open the image. You can change the set of default adjustments for each camera by doing the following:

1. Open Presets preferences, and then select whether you want the camera serial number and the camera ISO setting to be included in the defaults.
2. In Develop module, select a raw file, change settings, and choose Develop > Set Default Settings.
3. Choose Update To Current Settings.

Hope that helps.

[TonyComer]

Dick,
Thank You! I went into the Presets menu and the "Apply Auto Tone Adjustments" was checked...

[KdLaneJr]

Originally Posted by timbertoes

lol, Whatever Is Going On, I'd Say Lightroom Is Doing You A Favor..
The Second Picture Looks Correct.

+1