{"id":60895,"date":"2024-12-03T16:50:26","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T00:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/?p=60895"},"modified":"2024-12-04T11:00:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T19:00:11","slug":"basic-color-management-in-photoshop-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/basic-color-management-in-photoshop-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Color Management in Photoshop for beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to keep consistent colors in Photoshop<\/h1>\n

Sometime, you go to output an image and suddenly, the color changes. Or you are trying to combine 2 images and the colors change. What gives?
\nThis tutorial shows you how to keep your colors matching perfectly and explain why they change, as well as how to prevent color shifts. The first part of this Photoshop tutorial, show you how to prevent color shift.<\/p>\n

The 2nd part of this tutorial explains basic color management in Photoshop. Even if you are a beginner, these essential steps will help you work with consistent color throughout your workflow. This is not a tutorial on monitor calibration, It’s a tutorial on setting up Photoshop. This applies to any version of Photoshop.<\/p>\n

Stop Photoshop changing colors on export<\/h2>\n

Start with a photo and you want to export a jpg. (This is a \u00a0photo, I made of talented musician, Taylor Davis.)<\/p>\n

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Choose File>Export>Save for web.<\/p>\n

Usually it starts in the Optimized tab, showing a preview that may or may not match the original.<\/p>\n

In this case, it’s close, but more saturated color than the original.<\/p>\n

\"Color<\/p>\n

Here is the same image before I calibrated my monitor. The color is different but by more.<\/p>\n

The more different this looks, the more you need to calibrate your monitor. Even a calibrated monitor, will be slightly different (with these settings) as you see in the first image.<\/p>\n

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Here is another example of uncalibrated. When I change to the Original tab, it’s different again. You might be seeing these types of shifts. Which is the real color? (Tip: what you saw in Photoshop).<\/p>\n

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If your colors are wildly off, or you have never calibrated your system, it will make a difference. This is not a tut on Calibration (I can do one, if I get requests). To calibrate, you will need a monitor<\/a> that supports calibration. I use BenQ monitors. Disclosure, I am a BenQ ambassador, but the isn’t a sponsored tutorial and not a tutorial about monitor calibration. If about Photoshop color settings.<\/p>\n

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You will also need a device like the Calibrate Display Pro HL,<\/a> If these is demand, I’ll do a tutorial on Monitor calibration.<\/p>\n

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How to view Accurate Color in Save from Web in Photoshop<\/h2>\n

Here is the first tip: Where it says preview in save for web, see if it says Monitor color<\/p>\n

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Change to Use Document profile. You should see a big difference. For many users, this alone will solve or greatly reduce the problem.<\/p>\n

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Notice how the colors now perfectly match (on a calibrated display).<\/p>\n

The good news, even if the colors don’t match perfectly in Save for web, the output jpg or png image should still match the original.<\/p>\n

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Export as, an alternative way to export<\/h2>\n

Adobe wants us to use the newer Image>Export>Export as<\/p>\n

You should notice the preview colors are closer to the original. The downside to Export as, is that lack of metadata and some other options, which leaves me still using the Save for web.<\/p>\n

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Hopefully, this helps you get better previews in save for web. Ok, now, lets set up Photoshop to give us perfect colors every time.<\/p>\n

Basic Photoshop Color Management (Please read).<\/h2>\n

Within the RGB (Red, Green +Blue) world, there are different profiles (AKA color spaces).<\/p>\n