Nikon, assigning new profiles and color...
I would like to know how to Assign a "Generic RGB Color Profile" to a Nikon .NEW raw file.
In Nikon View or Nikon NX, I am able to Assign (not convert) a Generic RGB profile to the .NEF, instead of the one assigned within the .NEF (usually sRGB or Adobe RGB).
This makes a HUGE difference as to how the color of the file is presented. Of course, I would then convert the file to sRGB or aRGB to move along down the chain, but the coloring from the "Generic RGB" assignment stays intact as it gets converted to sRGB or aRGB.
But when I try to do this with C1...
- I thought the profile was assigned upon OUTPUT in C1, so I tried selecting "Generic RGB" as the profile before exporting as a JPEG. (I also have my proof setup to view "Selected Recipe") - but this does NOT show the expected resulting color change I want. It's as if the Generic RGB profile is ignored completely as the picture still has the "look" of an srgb or argb color assignment. Sure, it's tagged as a Generic RGB Jpeg, but you tell it's gone through one of the other other profiles to get there first.
- then I tried to figure out how to get "Generic RGB" to be one of my options in the Base Settings list....thinking these are the profiles that first interpret the .NEF file (I've got D200 Generic and Portrait, plus the list of Profiles that come with C1 by default...but I can't figure out how to add to this list.) and if I can somehow get the "Generic RGB" in that list, it will 1.)give me the color rendering within C1 that the Generic assignment produces 2.) allow me to do further edits within C1 before 3.) converting/exporting an sRGB or aRGB JPEG into Photoshop.
Background:
We have all heard something along the lines of "if you want your .NEF files to look *exactly* like your in-camera JPGs, then you have to use Nikon's own NX raw convertor because it will read all your in-camera settings."
Turns out...this is not always true. If you happen to shoot just RAW with Adobe RGB color space selected in-camera (not JPG, not RAW+JPG, but just RAW) - Nikon's NX (with default color management settings) can't even reproduce the JPG you're looking at on the back of the LCD. Just try it and you will see.
I was finally able to get Nikon NX to render EXACTLY what I was seeing on the back of the LCD screen, by changing the programs color management defaults to Assign a Generic RGB profile instead of what was embedded in the .NEF file.
Why I think this issue is of MASSIVE importance to Nikon users:
Plain and simple, there is a HUGE difference, particularly noticeable in skin tones, between these 2 different "styles" of rendering from a Nikon camera. The one style is the typical overly pinky skin tone look that Nikon's seem to excel at. But if you set the Camera to Adobe RGB, and ONLY shoot RAW, you will notice the LCD shows an extremely different way of handling skin tones. No pinky, just smooth golden yellow tones.
This skin rendering is especially suited to medium to darker skin types, and for all skin types it seems WAY more natural. I feel now that I have really spent 90% of my editing time over the last few years taking away all the pink that gets introduced when I open a raw file. That this color "thing" has been my main issue all along.
Finally, I have deliberately stayed away from certain technicalities of color management because I don't think they matter to my issue. 1.) I am not claiming any coloring is better than the other. I am just seeking the choice to use what is best for the picture. 2.) The additional "pinky" Nikon stuff may indeed benefit certain pictures. Again, not claiming any color is better than the others. 3.) I don't really believe in absolutes or things being "correct" when it comes to art and color. If something is correct but worse looking, then I use the incorrect thing that looks better. I suspect that everyone "believing in the rules" has led to the current situation where thousands and thousands of Nikon users have learned to simply ignore what they see right in front of them. 6.) I am NOT assigning "blame" to anyone, and this is not a "problem" that I expect someone else (Nikon, Apple) should fix. It is simply a DISCOVERY of how the tool works that has really huge implications on the final product. 7.) Users of others cameras...go enjoy your life. This is Nikon specific I think. 🤬
Thanks all for listening. I'm in the process of making jpgs of each conversion style so people can see what I'm seeing, and I fully intend to get to the bottom of this for the sake of all the pink skinned pics out there 😉, but I thought I'd take a shot in the dark and post here first since all I *really* want is to be able to do this with Capture One and move on! I get absolutely NO pleasure from having to spend my time researching color management, but this I feel is so very critical to delivering the best quality to my clients that it just literally keeps me up at night. I mean, if it was something as simple as a setting change that could drastically improve the quality of your pictures, wouldn't you want to know?! We all debate over far smaller aspects of quality than this one. This is a big deal IMHO (for Nikon users).
In Nikon View or Nikon NX, I am able to Assign (not convert) a Generic RGB profile to the .NEF, instead of the one assigned within the .NEF (usually sRGB or Adobe RGB).
This makes a HUGE difference as to how the color of the file is presented. Of course, I would then convert the file to sRGB or aRGB to move along down the chain, but the coloring from the "Generic RGB" assignment stays intact as it gets converted to sRGB or aRGB.
But when I try to do this with C1...
- I thought the profile was assigned upon OUTPUT in C1, so I tried selecting "Generic RGB" as the profile before exporting as a JPEG. (I also have my proof setup to view "Selected Recipe") - but this does NOT show the expected resulting color change I want. It's as if the Generic RGB profile is ignored completely as the picture still has the "look" of an srgb or argb color assignment. Sure, it's tagged as a Generic RGB Jpeg, but you tell it's gone through one of the other other profiles to get there first.
- then I tried to figure out how to get "Generic RGB" to be one of my options in the Base Settings list....thinking these are the profiles that first interpret the .NEF file (I've got D200 Generic and Portrait, plus the list of Profiles that come with C1 by default...but I can't figure out how to add to this list.) and if I can somehow get the "Generic RGB" in that list, it will 1.)give me the color rendering within C1 that the Generic assignment produces 2.) allow me to do further edits within C1 before 3.) converting/exporting an sRGB or aRGB JPEG into Photoshop.
Background:
We have all heard something along the lines of "if you want your .NEF files to look *exactly* like your in-camera JPGs, then you have to use Nikon's own NX raw convertor because it will read all your in-camera settings."
Turns out...this is not always true. If you happen to shoot just RAW with Adobe RGB color space selected in-camera (not JPG, not RAW+JPG, but just RAW) - Nikon's NX (with default color management settings) can't even reproduce the JPG you're looking at on the back of the LCD. Just try it and you will see.
I was finally able to get Nikon NX to render EXACTLY what I was seeing on the back of the LCD screen, by changing the programs color management defaults to Assign a Generic RGB profile instead of what was embedded in the .NEF file.
Why I think this issue is of MASSIVE importance to Nikon users:
Plain and simple, there is a HUGE difference, particularly noticeable in skin tones, between these 2 different "styles" of rendering from a Nikon camera. The one style is the typical overly pinky skin tone look that Nikon's seem to excel at. But if you set the Camera to Adobe RGB, and ONLY shoot RAW, you will notice the LCD shows an extremely different way of handling skin tones. No pinky, just smooth golden yellow tones.
This skin rendering is especially suited to medium to darker skin types, and for all skin types it seems WAY more natural. I feel now that I have really spent 90% of my editing time over the last few years taking away all the pink that gets introduced when I open a raw file. That this color "thing" has been my main issue all along.
Finally, I have deliberately stayed away from certain technicalities of color management because I don't think they matter to my issue. 1.) I am not claiming any coloring is better than the other. I am just seeking the choice to use what is best for the picture. 2.) The additional "pinky" Nikon stuff may indeed benefit certain pictures. Again, not claiming any color is better than the others. 3.) I don't really believe in absolutes or things being "correct" when it comes to art and color. If something is correct but worse looking, then I use the incorrect thing that looks better. I suspect that everyone "believing in the rules" has led to the current situation where thousands and thousands of Nikon users have learned to simply ignore what they see right in front of them. 6.) I am NOT assigning "blame" to anyone, and this is not a "problem" that I expect someone else (Nikon, Apple) should fix. It is simply a DISCOVERY of how the tool works that has really huge implications on the final product. 7.) Users of others cameras...go enjoy your life. This is Nikon specific I think. 🤬
Thanks all for listening. I'm in the process of making jpgs of each conversion style so people can see what I'm seeing, and I fully intend to get to the bottom of this for the sake of all the pink skinned pics out there 😉, but I thought I'd take a shot in the dark and post here first since all I *really* want is to be able to do this with Capture One and move on! I get absolutely NO pleasure from having to spend my time researching color management, but this I feel is so very critical to delivering the best quality to my clients that it just literally keeps me up at night. I mean, if it was something as simple as a setting change that could drastically improve the quality of your pictures, wouldn't you want to know?! We all debate over far smaller aspects of quality than this one. This is a big deal IMHO (for Nikon users).
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This is the coloring I'm taking about, and matches closely the skin tones I was seeing in my LCD previews...
http://www.covertdesign.com/nikon/generic_to_sRGB_webcomp.jpg
Pretty much the same thing, except this time my "Generic RGB" JPG gets converted to an Adobe RGB 1998 working space (before a final convert to sRGB for the web)...we're still good.
http://www.covertdesign.com/nikon/generic_to_aRGB_webcomp.jpg
However, this is what happens to an .NEF if you use the sRGB defaults in either Capture or View NX, C1, ACR etc.
http://www.covertdesign.com/nikon/sRGB_webcomp.jpg
And this is what happens to an .NEF if you use the Adobe RGB 1998 defaults in either Capture or View NX, C1, ACR etc.
http://www.covertdesign.com/nikon/aRGB_webcomp.jpg0 -
I am grappling with the same issue! In Camera Raw 5.7 I was using 2 profiles that I had downloaded; D2X Mode 1 v3 and Camera Standard v3. How do I get these in Capture One? Is there a way of opening all my files so that they are set to Standard v3 and then manually adjusting the ones i want in D2X? Or am I misunderstanding the way Capture ONe works? Should I be using different profiles to get the same result. thanks 0 -
Hello, I'm using nikon capture NX for years, and the only thing that was wrong with it is the slow workflow.
When I started to use Capture one I was so happy to find the software that does not wastes my time, but I'm frustrated becouse I can not produce so clear colors, enhanced details in shadows, and harmonic in colors as I can with Nikon capture NX.
The main problem (as I think) comes from color profile (that "generic" kind) that is the only one that can applied to opened RAW files in apture one.
Can anyone tell something solution?0
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