Author Topic: RGB or sRGB, which is better (Read 6674 times)

visceralimage · « **on:** March 06, 2011, 19:26 »

Is it better to upload images as RGB or sRGB? I know RGB is a wider gamut color space and will have more information; I assumed this was the best color space to be uploading but sRGB looks better on the web and may result in more downloads. What do other do?

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2011, 20:05 »

Technically it should be RGB but some sites don't convert to sRGB for displaying thumbs, which look a lot better. So I would go with sRGB from all. Or if you have lots of time and no life you could figure out what each site excels at and submit accordingly.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2011, 23:28 »

Quote from: visceralimage on March 06, 2011, 19:26

Is it better to upload images as RGB or sRGB? ...

Do you mean Adobe RGB or sRGB?

AFAIK the only common denominator across all sites at the moment is sRGB. If a site does not convert images in spaces other than sRGB to sRGB when creating thumbs, lots of browsers will display the image with really unpleasant colors. As more browswers become color management aware (i.e. can read ICC profiles) it'd be OK for any image with an embedded profile, but I doubt sites will ever put profiles into thumbnail images as it'd make the files too large.

iStock is the only site that handles automatic conversion for thumbnail creation and web sizes from whatever profile you upload in - ProPhoto or Adobe RGB - but that's been broken for a month or so (fix supposedly just around the corner).

When I was independent, I always converted to sRGB when making the JPEGs to upload.

visceralimage · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2011, 00:02 »

Quote from: jsnover on March 06, 2011, 23:28

Quote from: visceralimage on March 06, 2011, 19:26
Is it better to upload images as RGB or sRGB? ...

Do you mean Adobe RGB or sRGB?

AFAIK the only common denominator across all sites at the moment is sRGB. If a site does not convert images in spaces other than sRGB to sRGB when creating thumbs, lots of browsers will display the image with really unpleasant colors. As more browswers become color management aware (i.e. can read ICC profiles) it'd be OK for any image with an embedded profile, but I doubt sites will ever put profiles into thumbnail images as it'd make the files too large.

iStock is the only site that handles automatic conversion for thumbnail creation and web sizes from whatever profile you upload in - ProPhoto or Adobe RGB - but that's been broken for a month or so (fix supposedly just around the corner).

When I was independent, I always converted to sRGB when making the JPEGs to upload.

Yes, Adobe RGB or sRGB; to me this is a bit amazing. sRGB is a much smaller gamut color space so the sites not doing the conversion for web viewing means we must upload lower quality images for purchase. If a client is then going to print the image, they lose even more in conversion to CMYK

Noodles · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2011, 01:10 »

Quote from: visceralimage on March 07, 2011, 00:02

Yes, Adobe RGB or sRGB; to me this is a bit amazing. sRGB is a much smaller gamut color space so the sites not doing the conversion for web viewing means we must upload lower quality images for purchase. If a client is then going to print the image, they lose even more in conversion to CMYK

Yeah and my pet hate is contributors who over saturate their images to make their thumbnails "pop" which is fine for the web but not for print. I often wish there was an option to buy (and sell) the original RAW file and let the designer do the work (properly).

rubyroo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2011, 03:24 »

I'd go with sRGB. I switched to sRGB from AdobeRGB after reading something on the subject by Rob Sylvan, and I have been so much happier with the appearance of my thumbnails across all agencies since then.

Jonathan Ross · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2011, 20:08 »

Hi visceralimage,

RGB for press work SRGB for the web. I would always choose the Adobe 98 RGB for capture or Raw and then convert to SRGB before uploading, the RGB color space is bigger and that allows the pre press guys to get the image to really shine in print. Hope this helps.

Best,
Jonathan

RacePhoto · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2011, 22:41 »

Quote from: Jonathan Ross on March 10, 2011, 20:08

Hi visceralimage,

RGB for press work SRGB for the web. I would always choose the Adobe 98 RGB for capture or Raw and then convert to SRGB before uploading, the RGB color space is bigger and that allows the pre press guys to get the image to really shine in print. Hope this helps.

Best,
Jonathan

What's a press? You mean that antiquated soon to be obsolete method of making prints instead of electronic display.

Obviously I'm not buying the RGB school when sRGB is covering what most buyers will be using if for now. In other words, producing for the majority, and what shows best on the web, not a tiny shrinking minority.

John W. · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2011, 18:28 »

I edit my pictures from RAW with 16bit AdobeRGB. before I save and upload I convert to 8bit and sRGB. AdobeRGB is better for print but make pictures on the web look dull.

visceralimage · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2011, 20:57 »

This is surprising to me; we are providing our clients substandard work just because it looks better on the web. Much of our images are used in print or for products; the sRGB color space is much less than regular RGB

Digital66 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2011, 22:03 »

Adobe RGB or sRGB?

Check this: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/adobe-rgb.htm

I go with sRGB. sRGB is not substandard work.

bunhill · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2011, 01:44 »

What do you people find is best for Alamy ?

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Author Topic: RGB or sRGB, which is better (Read 6674 times)

visceralimage

PeterChigmaroff

Jo Ann Snover

visceralimage

Noodles

rubyroo

Jonathan Ross

RacePhoto

John W.

visceralimage

Digital66

bunhill

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