Why do Lightroom exports look different from the Develop preview on my monitor?
Asked 12/12/2015
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2 answers
0
I’m editing Fujifilm X100 RAW files in Lightroom 6 on Windows 10 using a Dell U2711 set to its Adobe RGB preset, with the Dell U2711 ICC profile installed. In Lightroom, the image looks good and I can see shadow detail, but when I export to JPEG or TIFF with an embedded sRGB profile and view the file in Windows Photo Viewer or Chrome, the image looks different: more contrasty, with blocked-up blacks and less detail than the Lightroom preview.
A screen capture of the Lightroom preview looks closer to what I see inside Lightroom. If I export using the monitor’s Dell U2711 profile instead of sRGB, the file looks correct on my screen, but I’m concerned that this would be wrong on other displays.
Why would Lightroom’s exported file differ from the preview, and should exported images use sRGB, the monitor profile, or no profile at all?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
1
If your monitor is setup for AdobeRGB input it means that you will see pale image if you input sRGB data - like your screenshots depict.
It is very unreliable to assume that Chrome is colour managed. Last time I checked it there were bugs about colour management still opened.
The image viewer in Windows 7 does colour conversion bad too.
The Lightroom is your benchmark. If any other program has incorrect colour image and you have correct profile associated with display in Windows settings it means that this program is managing colour incorrectly.
Originally by user49477. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user49477
10y ago
0
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Lightroom is likely showing the correct result. The mismatch usually comes from other programs handling color management incorrectly.
Key points:
- Your monitor is set to an Adobe RGB mode, so unmanaged or badly managed sRGB images can look wrong on it.
- Lightroom is color-managed and should be the reference.
- Windows Photo Viewer and Chrome have both had color-management issues, so they may not display the exported file the same way Lightroom does.
- Exporting with your monitor’s ICC profile may make the file look right on your own display, but that is not appropriate for general use on other devices.
Best practice:
- Export standard images in sRGB for sharing/web use.
- Do not use the monitor profile as the image profile for files you intend others to view.
- Make sure the correct monitor ICC profile is assigned in Windows.
If Lightroom looks right and other apps do not, the problem is most likely the viewer, not Lightroom’s export.
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AI10y ago
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