Question about converting RAW to jpg.

[guitarbug]

I am fairly new in shooting in RAW and I just noticed that when I open the RAW image it looks bright and popping! After i touch them up and do some vinetting and what not, I opened the image to CS2 then did some layer mask that I learned to do at Mike & Cody's workshop this weekend. After I am done I saved to jpg and opened on my PC and they look totaly differn't they are not as bright and popping and look fairly dull. These are being opened on the same monitor so I am a little confused ? Any Idea what I am doing wrong? Thanks!

[JohnT]

Sounds like a color space issue. Be sure to convert to sRGB before saving as JPEG for monitor/web viewing.

[limeybob]

This sounds a little weird but i would try it in steps.
1) Open the raw in CS2 then same without adjustment to jpeg (use highest quality) then review. You may have some funxy settings in the raw conversion (bridge? or whatever you use.)
2) Save the CS2 modified file a s a TIFF and them open again

Also - when you say they pop do you mean in the camera or on the screen. Your camera processes the raw to generate the view on the camera back and the jpeg if you chose RAW+jpeg and that may have boosted satruation, contrast etc.
Now I think of it what are you comparing the end result to?
Explain the flow a little better please.
Bob

[AndrewCCM]

Colorspace. Be sure you CONVERT to sRGB before viewing online in a browser, etc...

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by limeybob

This sounds a little weird but i would try it in steps.
1) Open the raw in CS2 then same without adjustment to jpeg (use highest quality) then review. You may have some funxy settings in the raw conversion (bridge? or whatever you use.)
2) Save the CS2 modified file a s a TIFF and them open again

Also - when you say they pop do you mean in the camera or on the screen. Your camera processes the raw to generate the view on the camera back and the jpeg if you chose RAW+jpeg and that may have boosted satruation, contrast etc.
Now I think of it what are you comparing the end result to?
Explain the flow a little better please.
Bob

I mean they seem to pop on the screen, just bright and brillant the way I would like to see them in print. I shot them in RAW + jpg . I don't have time right this moment got to head to boy scout with my som, but will try those steps when I return.

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Colorspace. Be sure you CONVERT to sRGB before viewing online in a browser, etc...

Thanks John & Andrew! I though I was in sRGB, will double ckeck!

[boxofrocks]

Also, you said "I saved to jpg and opened on my PC ". It may be you are opening them in another program besides PS, such as Windows Explorer. It renders the colors and contrast less accurately. I notice the same thing.

[limeybob]

I would guess that the jpeg the camera produced is the one which pops and the one you convert has not been processed the same way. RAW is just as it sounds. RAW and unprocessed by the camera.
Check your camera settings and you may find an image "style" (the name depends on the type of camera) and this is how the camera processes th RAW to generate a jpeg.
You need to do some, saturation and levels to get the same effect. The good news i that when you do it with adjustment layers you lose nothing and can start any time you want from scratch.
Have a look when you've been scouting and you'll see what I mean I'm sure.
IMHO color space could not account for your alarm

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by limeybob

I would guess that the jpeg the camera produced is the one which pops and the one you convert has not been processed the same way. RAW is just as it sounds. RAW and unprocessed by the camera.
Check your camera settings and you may find an image "style" (the name depends on the type of camera) and this is how the camera processes th RAW to generate a jpeg.
You need to do some, saturation and levels to get the same effect. The good news i that when you do it with adjustment layers you lose nothing and can start any time you want from scratch.
Have a look when you've been scouting and you'll see what I mean I'm sure.
IMHO color space could not account for your alarm

Got back from scouts and double checked, it was that I did not save the RAW in sRGB. As soon as I tried one that way the opened it outside PS it was exactly the same on my screen as it was when I looked at the RAW file! Thank God & TPF, lol... I was about to give up and start shooting in jpg again. What a difference my images are going to be now. Thanks all for the help, again!

[Roy]

This thread was almost useless without pics.

[AndrewCCM]

Chris,

You may know this already.. but.. You basically "assign" a colorspace to your RAW images when you export. What I typically do is Assign Prophoto or Adobe RGB in my RAW converter of choice, then do all my editing, printing, etc... THEN.. last step.. anything that I give to a client that may be displayed on the web, printed at Costco, etc.. I will then "Convert" in Photoshop to sRGB.

I like to work with the largest color space possible and only convert as one of the last steps.

I think your problem is one of the #1 things people struggle with when starting to use RAW..

Some browsers/viewers are color space aware, but it's best to be sure your images are sRGB to be consistent across all systems when displaying to web.

Glad you got it worked out.

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

Chris,

You may know this already.. but.. You basically "assign" a colorspace to your RAW images when you export. What I typically do is Assign Prophoto or Adobe RGB in my RAW converter of choice, then do all my editing, printing, etc... THEN.. last step.. anything that I give to a client that may be displayed on the web, printed at Costco, etc.. I will then "Convert" in Photoshop to sRGB.

I like to work with the largest color space possible and only convert as one of the last steps.

I think your problem is one of the #1 things people struggle with when starting to use RAW..

Some browsers/viewers are color space aware, but it's best to be sure your images are sRGB to be consistent across all systems when displaying to web.

Glad you got it worked out.

Thanks again Andrew! So its not as easy as just clicking a shutter button! Hmm, lol..