Why do my exported images look oversaturated after monitor calibration in Photoshop?
Asked 11/28/2021
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2 answers
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I calibrated my laptop display with a SpyderX Pro and set the new monitor profile as default. In Photoshop, my working space is sRGB and I opened an image tagged as sRGB. Without making edits, the exported file looks much more saturated when viewed outside Photoshop. Colors also differ between Photoshop, my image viewer, and video apps.
What settings should I check after calibration? Specifically: working space vs monitor profile, whether Proof Colors should be enabled, and why Photoshop can look correct while other apps or exported files look wrong on the same laptop.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
4y ago
2 Answers
1
Have you set up color management in FastStone? (F12 > CSM tab > Enable CMS).
Many programs are partially color managed in that they read/honor the color space profile of the image, but they do not apply the monitor profile. This is because bad monitor profiles are not uncommon; whereas all monitors are reasonably sRGB compatible (PS does apply the monitor profile).
I'm not entirely certain about FastStone, but I'm guessing it is not using the monitor profile (and it may not even if CMS is enabled). And that probably means your monitor profile is a little wonky... you could try enabling the default sRGB monitor profile to see if that is your issue.
The only thing I set differently in PS is to also enable "convert to sRGB" in the export dialogue by default... IDT it will make a difference here; it just helps prevent user error mistakes during export.
Originally by user70370. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user70370
4y ago
0
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Most likely Photoshop is showing the image correctly and the mismatch is coming from other apps not handling color management properly.
Key points:
- Keep the image/profile separate from the monitor profile. An sRGB image should usually remain in sRGB; don’t assign your monitor calibration profile to the image.
- Photoshop is generally reliable for color-managed viewing, provided you restarted it after installing the monitor profile and Proof Colors is off unless you intentionally need soft proofing.
- If another viewer looks oversaturated, it may be ignoring either the image profile or the monitor profile. In FastStone, for example, CMS/color management needs to be enabled.
- As a test, try using the standard sRGB monitor profile temporarily; if that reduces the mismatch, your custom monitor profile may be problematic.
- Exporting with “convert to sRGB” is a sensible default for general sharing.
So: leave images tagged/converted to sRGB for normal output, don’t assign the calibrated monitor profile to files, use color-managed apps for viewing, and only use Proof Colors for specific soft-proof tasks—not as a general fix.
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AI4y ago
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