Dull quality for all images exported from Capture One 6...?

Max Knight

• August 19, 2011 10:19

Hi

I wouldn't say I'm particularly well acquainted with Capture One, compared to most of you out there. I work mainly with film so a RAW workflow is rather confusing for me...I hope I'm just being stupid here...

I just can't figure out why all images I'm exporting from the program have the same dull finish when uploaded to my website or flickr etc...they look perfect when adjusted in Capture One and after processing...

If you compare this section of my website (http://maxknightphoto.com/index.php?/project/portraits/) which was mostly processed through Photoshop: to this section (http://maxknightphoto.com/index.php?/project/sarajevo/), processed by Capture One - I hope you will see the difference in general vibrancy...

Thank you

Max

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  Ulf Liljegren

  • August 19, 2011 11:17

  Hey
  
  We don't chip in that often since this is a user to user forum but I got interested.
  I hope you are aware that a web browser standard is made for displaying images in a sRGB profile.
  
  The PS images has a Adobe 1998 profile which can not be displayed correctly but fair enough, it is not that bad.
  The CO image you have a Epson print profile. That will never look good on web.......

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  Permanently deleted user

  • August 19, 2011 11:35

  To add to Ulf's correct analysis...SOME browsers ARE color managed, so the effect of straying from the web standard sRGB might go unnoticed by those viewers (your images look fine here on a managed browser, it is not until I use a computer with an older unmanaged browser that I can see the effect.) That's as long as the profile is attached, otherwise I belive sRGB is assummed....
  
  That's why I use an sRGB workflow for portraits, there's no difference in prints from the lab with either A1998 or sRGB, but a significant difference on the web AFA skintones....even a1998 looks very muted and muddy IMHO....

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  Max Knight

  • August 19, 2011 11:50

  Ulf,
  
  Thank you very much for your swift reply
  I was sure it was me being stupid and that it had nothing to do with Capture One - its been a revelation using your software, once I become better acquainted with it, I hope I can rule out using PS for good!
  
  John - thats interesting, I use Chrome, which seemingly has no active colour management. But I just opened the site in Safari (which I never usually do) and the images look as they should...
  
  I understand the issues now, but I think I'll spend some more time reading up on colour profiles!
  I will make sure I change to sRGB and re-upload the images, possibly staying away from a1998 as well
  
  
  Thank you for your help
  
  MK

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  Robert Goldstein

  • August 22, 2011 21:47

  I have had the same issue with processed images from C1, and what I have noticed is that the histograms of the images when opened in Photoshop are compressed, i.e. the end points of the histogram do not extend as far as in C1. I believe that this is deliberate, so as to allow for more aggressive post-processing in PS. In particular, it allows for greater boosting of contrast before clipping of highlights and shadows occurs. So, I think that this is the explanation for the dull looking images when you first open them in PS. Just adjust the image according to your taste, and all will be fine. I do not think that it has anything to do with profiles, as I use the camera profile both in C1 and PS.
  
  One can argue whether this compression of the histogram should be optional, rather than mandatory. I have recently been testing Raw Photo Processor (RPP), and it gives the user the option of having output "optimized" for post-processing. "Optimized" means doing the same thing that C1 does with its processed images. RPP, BTW, is incredible. It has a very rudimentary feature set, but the best raw conversions that I have seen. It will now supplement C1 in my workflow and will be used on selected images, when I want the absolute best IQ.
  
  Rob

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