What color profile should I use for JPEGs on the web, and how can I check it in Photoshop?
Asked 2/16/2017
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2 answers
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I export RAW photos to JPEG from Lightroom, then sometimes make small edits in Photoshop CS5. For images intended for web viewing (not printing), what is the best practice for color profiles?
Options I’m considering:
- embed sRGB
- embed Adobe RGB
- use no embedded profile
My goal is to minimize color problems in browsers or phone apps that may not handle color management correctly.
Also, how can I tell which color profile a JPEG currently has in Photoshop CS5?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
4
Not all browsers support colour management, and if they don't, they'll act like the images are encoded in sRGB. Since sRGB is also the default for images without an embedded profile, this is the safest option for images intended to be viewed via web browser.
It doesn't make much of a difference whether you embed sRGB or no profile at all.
PS does have an option in the colour management settings to warn you if an images colour profile differs from the set working profile - this is a good idea to turn on, then you'll see the images' colour profile in the warning dialog on opening the image, together with the option to convert it, use the images profile as working profile or ignore the difference (not recommended).
You can set the information displayed at the bottom of each image window in PS to show you the colour space.
Originally by user32110. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user32110
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For web use, the safest choice is sRGB. Many browsers and apps either assume sRGB or handle it most reliably, so using Adobe RGB can cause incorrect color if the viewer isn’t color-managed.
Embedding sRGB is generally best practice. In practice, sRGB and no embedded profile often behave similarly in non-color-managed software, because untagged images are usually treated as sRGB anyway. But embedding sRGB is clearer and more robust.
To check a JPEG’s profile in Photoshop CS5, enable the color-management warning in Color Settings so Photoshop alerts you when an image’s embedded profile differs from your working space. The warning dialog will show the image’s profile when you open it. You can also configure the info shown at the bottom of the image window to display document profile information.
So:
- Web: convert to sRGB
- Prefer embedding the sRGB profile
- Avoid Adobe RGB for general web delivery unless you have a specific controlled workflow
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