TIFF to JPEG

[venchka]

I work hard. I try to do everything right. Sometimes I get an awesome photograph on my calibrated monitor. I know, it's only 70-100dpi. Even so, the original TIFF file from the scanner looks awesome. White whites. Black blacks. Every possible gray in between. Detail out the Wazoo.

I figure I would like to post this photo on the internet. Export from Lightroom. 1024 on the long side. 133 ppi. Zap! Done!

Post in my online gallery. Open with my uncalibrated HP monitor. Sh!#e. The JEPG looks like crap. Gray whites. Gray blacks. Zero contrast. Zero detail. I don't get it. A 6mp P&S camera JPEG looks awesome on this forum. A 700kb+ JPEG from a 33+ Mp, 65MB TIFF file looks like doggie pooh-pooh. What's up with that?

Must be a conspiracy. Digital in-Digital out looks great. Analog in-Digital out looks like Manure. Cold dead manure.

It's not fair.

[jeffkohn]

Make sure that when you export the JPEG from Lightroom that you convert it to sRGB. Most web-browsers are not colorspace-aware.

[venchka]

I do that Jeff.

Here is the latest disappointment. I'm almost embarrased to post it. I wish everyone could see the original.



Blah! and Bland!

[d2creative]

I was gonna say the same thing, convert to sRGB before exporting. I do this in photoshop. Convert to sRGB first, then either save-as a jpg or export to web as a jpg with a compression of 60. Usually, there is no discernible change in color.

Now i haven't done much with b/w but never noticed a problem in the few I have converted.

[venchka]

The sRGB thing is automatic. I always do that. No compression. Maybe it's my work monitor.

I will look at the JPEG next to the TIFF tonight.

[jeffkohn]

Converting to sRGB shouldn't hurt a B/W image for sure.

If you're evaluating the online version from a different machine, it could just be monitor display differences (non-calibrated displays can vary quite a bit, which is why you should take comments from others about tonality or color casts with a grain of salt unless you're pretty sure they're using a calibrated display).

The only other explanation I can think of would be if your photo-hosting service was doing some sort of processing that lowered the quality of the images once they were uploaded (for instance, recompressing them to save server space and bandwidth).

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

...
The only other explanation I can think of would be if your photo-hosting service was doing some sort of processing that lowered the quality of the images once they were uploaded (for instance, recompressing them to save server space and bandwidth).

If that is happening, I think you can test it by attaching the file directly to your TPF thread using the paperclip. I don't think TPF does any processing.

[cooltouch]

Originally Posted by venchka

The sRGB thing is automatic. I always do that. No compression. Maybe it's my work monitor.

I will look at the JPEG next to the TIFF tonight.

Hey Wayne,

On my recently-calibrated monitor, I see a range from almost white to almost black. The whitest whites could stand to be a bit brighter, IMO, while the darkest blacks seem about right. So, I'm thinking maybe it's your work monitor? Overall, the photo seems somewhat flat and a bit on the dark side, with darker mid-tones predominating, but it's really hard to say without seeing the original.

[venchka]

It's this HP monitor. Side by side at the apartment, the two files are fine.

Sorry for the false alarm.

[kenw]

yep, in this wonderful digital world of absolute 1s and 0s, every so often a .37 slips in.....

[venchka]

Grinning. My work monitor is a lousy ad for HP monitors.

Analog. When zeros and ones can't tell the whole story.

[kenw]

just to let you know, my work monitor appears to have come from the same factory...but with a Dell logo on it. It presently has a sickly green pall as it appears to be missing one channel altogether. It's bearable for Excel, tho....

[epoh]

My dell monitor is yellow. It drives me insane. I don't think most people even see it, but I have it in use right next to my laptop display which is _not_ yellow. Blech.

[venchka]

My condolences. Call Hospice.

[jeffkohn]

BTW Wayne nice shot. I so wish that was me in the scene, with a backpack. I'm ready for another trip....