Lightroom2 color help

[Panzer]

Hi all,

I've just downloaded the LR2 trial version. However, after importing some of my RAW files, the photos generally appeared very "dull" when viewed in the library module of LR2 as compared to when viewed in Oly Master 2 software. See attached image which is a print screen of my monitor display.

Is there a color setting in LR2 that I need to preset first? I am using Olympus E-1 and E-500.

I have yet to print the photo using LR2 and OM2 and make a comparison yet. Would like to see if anyone can provide some help and tips first.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CYRN]

seems like contrast is increased...

Check your import setting.

 

[macingrouch]

It could be the colour profile that you are using in LR2?
I'm not really sure.
I face a minor problem with LR is that when my photos are exported and viewed in say Preview (mac) or windows image viewer (windows) the colour looks somewhat different... very minor but that was explained by a friend that the colour profile in LR is different from my monitor and hence the display looks a little different. Any experts willingly to explain this phenomenon?

Sorry ah bro borrow ur thread to post this LR related issue.

 

[Octarine]

Check the other threads about Lightroom, the topic has been discussed already. LR2 has a different way of applying colour profiles. First thing: calibrate your monitor.

 

[Panzer]

It could be the colour profile that you are using in LR2?
I'm not really sure.
I face a minor problem with LR is that when my photos are exported and viewed in say Preview (mac) or windows image viewer (windows) the colour looks somewhat different... very minor but that was explained by a friend that the colour profile in LR is different from my monitor and hence the display looks a little different. Any experts willingly to explain this phenomenon?

Sorry ah bro borrow ur thread to post this LR related issue.

No prob. I haven't reached the develop and export stage yet. Still sorting out the color issue in the library module.

 

[Panzer]

Check the other threads about Lightroom, the topic has been discussed already. LR2 has a different way of applying colour profiles. First thing: calibrate your monitor.

Hi, tried searching here and DPreview but can't seem to find the info needed. The color management thingy is too 'cheam' to me and I am not too fuzzy with color mgt at the moment; still learning to take good pictures. Right now, I need something that can be used right "out of the box" without much tweaking, etc. At least the color in Olympus Master 2.0 looks acceptable even without monitor calibration.

Thanks.

 

[lennyl]

There was a thread but the problem does not seem to be the same.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=407057

Anyway I thought it looks like your white balance is off in Lightroom. What is your WB setting in LR2 and in OM2?

 

[Octarine]

Hi, tried searching here and DPreview but can't seem to find the info needed. The color management thingy is too 'cheam' to me and I am not too fuzzy with color mgt at the moment; still learning to take good pictures. Right now, I need something that can be used right "out of the box" without much tweaking, etc. At least the color in Olympus Master 2.0 looks acceptable even without monitor calibration.

Thanks.

First, I find that your picture looks much better in LR2 than in the Olympus tool, although a bit too warm. Also, the dark background of LR2 makes it easier to judge colors, white is distracting. Check the "Lights Off" function in LR2: just hit "L" once to dim the tool bars and hit "L" a second time to switch off all other components and only show your picture on black background.

Without calibrating your monitor you won't achieve useful results. You need to have a neutral baseline for your colors. Since no monitor is neutral "out of the box" you will not be able to use them without calibrating. Simple example: Most LCD screens are too cool, they show you too much blue. Developing your pictures most likely you will adjust the white balance to have a pleasant warm image at your screen (thus, increasing the red portion, decreasing the blue portion) - resulting in a picture that will look too warm on any other screen. That's the reason why you need a neutral baseline first before judging or adjusting any colors.
You can get hardware calibration tools (can be quite costly) or you use some software and your eyes. I have used Monitor Calibration Wizard and it's quite ok. Results look good.
Secondly, LR2 will use a certain color space. There are: sRGB, AdobeRGB and ProPhoteRGB. Check which one you have selected and which one you use in your camera. Adjust both to be the same. If you intend to print your pictures you will need to do the same calibration for your printer as well. Lightroom can also help here.
Thirdly: check which basic settings (especially white balance) both programmes apply. LR2 will show you basically all pictures "As shot" before applying any settings. But you can have a look at the camera settings, LR2 can take camera-specific settings in consideration. Check in Development module, right tool bar, at the very end.

Hope that helps

 

[lennyl]

First, I find that your picture looks much better in LR2 than in the Olympus tool, although a bit too warm.

My monitor is hardware calibrated, and the Olympus tool color is way more accurate than LR. The WB in LR is way off.

 

[Octarine]

My monitor is hardware calibrated, and the Olympus tool color is way more accurate than LR. The WB in LR is way off.

Yes, you are right. I have checked the picture with other editors and viewers, the embedded profile for the Samsung monitor confuses some of them. The initial screenshot looks ok for the Olympus tool, LR2 is ways too warm.
To TS: Found these links that seem to target your problem:
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=27406
http://blogs.oreilly.com/lightroom/2008/08/adobe-camera-profiles-and-ligh.html
http://www.lightroomforums.net/showthread.php?t=2747
http://www.dphotoexpert.com/2008/07/29/lightroom-version-2-released/

Hope that helps.

 

[kazeeee]

maybe u can try download and install this

http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/DNG_Profiles

then u choose adobe standard under Camera Calibration under Develop.


hope that helps

 

[Panzer]

Yes, you are right. I have checked the picture with other editors and viewers, the embedded profile for the Samsung monitor confuses some of them. The initial screenshot looks ok for the Olympus tool, LR2 is ways too warm.
To TS: Found these links that seem to target your problem:
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=27406
http://blogs.oreilly.com/lightroom/2008/08/adobe-camera-profiles-and-ligh.html
http://www.lightroomforums.net/showthread.php?t=2747
http://www.dphotoexpert.com/2008/07/29/lightroom-version-2-released/

Hope that helps.

maybe u can try download and install this

http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/DNG_Profiles

then u choose adobe standard under Camera Calibration under Develop.


hope that helps

Thanks for all these links and I've gotten very good info in there. I think the DNG_profiles thingy could solve my issue here. Still at work and will try it out tonight.

Thanks again.

 

[Panzer]

Just to update on what I've tried with all the help received so far.

1. I calibrated my monitor (to my best ability) using the basic software recommended by Octarine.
2. I downloaded the camera beta profile and did all the steps as listed in adobe FAQ web page.

However, I do not see any noticeable change in my screen outputs between LR2 and OM2. Still the same difference as before.

Next, I decided to print the same photo (raw format) with no adjustments, just using defaults with LR2 and OM2. Guess what, the 2 photos looks pretty much the same in colors with my naked eyes. And the OM2 photo looks pretty close to what is displayed on my screen by OM2, just that it is a little brighter on my screen compared to the photo output.
Where as the LR2 photo is much brighter than the screen output.

Looks like I have to give LR2 a miss.

 

[Panzer]

Hi all,

I think I managed to solve the problem after some googling today. Basically it was my Samsung LCD panel driver that was giving the problem. Somehow it just clashes with LR2 but not with the other common viewer like OM2, PSE, etc. So what I learnt from this guy (can't remember which forum) is to go to the windows desktop properties and change the driver for the monitor to sRGB color space, or AdobeRGB, and not use the Samsung driver.

I did that and it works. Now all my unprocessed RAW photos look pretty decent in LR2 on my screen

Just like to share this with those who might encounter the same problem with their Samsung LCD panels.

Thanks to all who has provided all the help and tips.

 

[lennyl]

I think I managed to solve the problem after some googling today. Basically it was my Samsung LCD panel driver that was giving the problem. Somehow it just clashes with LR2 but not with the other common viewer like OM2, PSE, etc. So what I learnt from this guy (can't remember which forum) is to go to the windows desktop properties and change the driver for the monitor to sRGB color space, or AdobeRGB, and not use the Samsung driver.

I did that and it works. Now all my unprocessed RAW photos look pretty decent in LR2 on my screen

Thanks for the update. I believe you found the issue, but it is things like this that confuses me utterly about color management.

Maybe someone can explain it to me. Why should LR2 (or Adobe Photoshop, for that matter) care about what is my monitor profile?

After all, the application tells the OS what color to display. The monitor profile tells the OS that to display a certain color, it needs to be adjusted by X amount (actually, done in graphics card's LUT, if I'm not wrong).

Can someone help? Thanks!

 

[Octarine]

Thank you for updating us. Sure it will help others with the same issues. :thumbsup: