Problems with color on Save (CS4)

Spyce · 09-22-2009

Hello.. I came across this site during a Google search, and thought maybe somebody could help me with a problem I've been having in Photoshop..

When I go to save my images, the saved .jpg is always much, much darker than what I see on my canvas inside the program. I've attempted to go through and figure out what's causing this, but I can't. Since it's kind of hard to explain I'll allow video to do that for me (there's no audio, so don't think there's something wrong with the sound or whatever): YouTube - Photoshop (to see a higher quality version of the video, to have a better idea of what I'm talking about, you may want to download from here: http://www.419design.net/rndm-misc_f...r_probs003.wmv (4.2 mb file). Please right click and save as... I don't have unlimited bandwidth).

So yes, that's my problem, and I'd like to know what's causing this. I'm not sure if it's a problem with Photoshop or just some settings in my computer- because I saved a copy of my layout to my hard drive and it looked dark and crappy on my monitor. I then went to one of the computers on my college campus and the same image looked just fine. It's just odd because the canvas will look the same both here and at school- it's just the saved image that differs. And it's not just this layout, it's any image I save.

Not sure if specs help at all, but I'll give them anyway:

Monitor: hp 19" LCD
PC: hp Pavillion Slimeline
O/S: Windows Vista Home Premium, SP2
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5000+ 2.60 GHz
RAM: 2.0GB
System type: 32-bit
Running: Adobe Photoshop CS4
Image >> Mode: RGB Color, 8 bits/channel
Proof Setup: Working CMYK

I understand this is a complex issue.. and anybody who is able to even begin to shed some light on this, I wish to thank in advance. I've been dealing with the problem for days and it's awful because I can't get any work done. Last thing I want to do is uninstall, then spend an hour re-installing only to lose my settings, my workspace layout, etc. (With my luck, I'd robably still have the same problem anyway! haha)

MoodsR4Cattle · 09-22-2009

Sounds like you need to adjust your color profile.

When opening a new document New > Open in the pop up box at the bottom click Advanced and choose "Don't Color Manage This Document".

If it's an existing document - open the image then go to Edit > Assign Profile and click "Don't Color Manage This Document".

Hope that helps!

**unleash** · 09-22-2009

The problem is definitly not with the install or with the hardware.

the only thing that can cause this is an setting in either photoshop or windows viewer (or whatever the other prog is called). I think moods gave the answer, or at least the most common sollution.

If however that is not changing anything... you might want to check out if windows viewer is "correcting" the jpeg to make it look more like how the printout will look.

Well I hope you find you solution soon!

**Tamlin** · 09-22-2009

I'd also suggest using the Save For Web & Devices... option rather than Save As...
It gives you far more control over your resulting JPG.

Spyce · 09-22-2009

Well, I tried everything, and nothing worked, unfortunately. So I simply replaced my image previewing program. I downloaded Irfanview and set all my .jpg's, .png's and .gif's to open with that. I no longer have a problem with colors that are off or too dark. It all looks as it should.

My apologies if I wasted any of your time- but your suggestions helped more than you know. Thank you again!

**unleash** · 09-23-2009

Trust me... wasting our time... that's almost impossible

Ah well happy it helped! Strange though that microsoft viewer alters the images that much... ah well its microsoft, so you never know

**Tamlin** · 09-23-2009

Ah - yet another reason for me not to move from XP to Vista.

MoodsR4Cattle · 09-23-2009

Ah - yet another reason for me to keep my Mac.

**unleash** · 09-23-2009

ah, all of you are overreacting.

If you have to choose between XP and Vista (and your system runs it) go for vista

If you have a mac and want a new computer... go vista

Vista isnt that bad as many say/ think... I run vista on my machine and the only thing that bugs me is that some programs can go against my "orders" for example vista wont delete some files.. But for such stuff there is always a workaround!!

Culann · 09-24-2009

Ah, but Macs can run OSX and Vista

and XP, theoretically, if you had enough drive space that you felt like having two windows partitions.

**Tamlin** · 09-24-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Culann

Ah, but Macs can run OSX and Vista

and XP, theoretically, if you had enough drive space that you felt like having two windows partitions.

I thought the argument for Macs was that they allowed you to break free of Microsoft's cultural hegemony? So isn't running Windows on a Mac sort of defeating the object?

(This question is just out of academic interest - to be honest I have no strong preferences for any operating system: as long as my car gets me from A to B, I don't much care who made the engine.)

**unleash** · 09-24-2009

Even if it was the old trabant factory? You know you're never sure you will reach B when you use that stuff

About nice mac's... I don't have any preference either. Its just fun to stir things up here

MoodsR4Cattle · 09-24-2009

For me the nice thing about switching from Mac OSX to PC SUX (on a Mac) is checking websites on PC browsers without having to invest in a PC.

It's also a constant reminder of why I have a Mac.

Culann · 09-24-2009

It's the best of both worlds, like Moods said. I can use my PC side for classwork, and my Mac for literally everything else.

**unleash** · 09-24-2009

ah well, if we are having that discussion again...

What makes that a Mac is better than a "normal" PC? What does it do better compared to an normal pc? (running linux or vista whichever suits the argument)