Why do my JPEG colors look different in different programs?
Asked 7/21/2017
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2 answers
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Some of my JPEGs look dull or desaturated in certain programs, but look vivid or normal in others. For example, Firefox or paint.net show one version, while Windows Photos or Internet Explorer show another. Why does this happen, and how can I export files so the colors look consistent across apps and on the web?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
5
This image has an input device color profile attached, OlympusStylus1-Generic. The highly-saturated and vivid images are from applications which are correctly loading and applying this profile. The more subdued images are ignoring the profile and interpreting the data as sRGB, leading to color shifts.
For what it's worth, while the non-profile image is clearly not correct, the profile itself results in higher saturation than is realistic.
It looks like you converted or edited the image with Capture One. Phase One recommends that for web use, images be converted to sRGB. (I think for most people who are not spending a lot of time with color profiling and management that this is in fact the best choice for all use.) Make sure you export your images in that color space. That page also notes the menu item ICC Profile>Embed Camera profile — I suggest turning that off, because as you've noticed, not all software honors that. Just make the output sRGB and move on.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is usually a color-management issue. Your JPEG has an embedded ICC color profile (in the example, an Olympus/edited profile rather than standard sRGB). Programs that honor the embedded profile display the file using that profile, while programs that ignore it assume the image is sRGB. That mismatch causes the dull or shifted colors.
To fix it, export images in sRGB for general use, especially for web sharing and everyday viewing. sRGB is the safest standard because most browsers, apps, and devices expect it. Also make sure the ICC profile is embedded when you export.
In short:
- Different apps handle color profiles differently.
- Your file is not being interpreted the same way everywhere.
- Converting/exporting to sRGB with the profile embedded gives the most consistent results.
If you edited the image in software like Capture One, check the export settings and choose sRGB as the output color space.
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