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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: rjmiz on May 25, 2008, 12:07

Title: Sites want over saturated images?
Post by: rjmiz on May 25, 2008, 12:07

Reading a post recently, I was amazed to read that one poster made a statement like,
(I will para phrase) ....some sites want you to oversaturate your images so they look better as thumbnails.

I began to wonder if this poster knew the difference in the different color profiles like Adobe 1998 and sRGB.
I mention theses profiles because they look entirely different side by side on the web. sRGB looks more saturated.

Although sRGB appears saturated compared to it's dull lifeless Adobe 1998 neighbor, Adobe has a wider gamut of colors
and therefore prints better. sRGB is quite limited in the amount of colors, and may be the cause for some "Banding" as seen in some gradients.

Another item to consider is whether the site you upload to converts your thumbnails to sRGB for you.
For that reader who continues to oversaturate his/her images, I thought you might like to know.

Cranky MIZ

Title: Re: Sites want over saturated images?
Post by: vonkara on May 25, 2008, 12:21

Examples... All except Istock does not change my adobe RGB to s'RGB

Istock: (http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5522840/2/istockphoto_5522840_drill.jpg)

All others in big 6: (http://images.stockxpert.com/pic/m/v/vo/vonkara/10629512_38876458.jpg)


Note that for some pictures IS is better but for those who's Vivid I have to put down saturation

Title: Re: Sites want over saturated images?
Post by: epantha on May 25, 2008, 14:21

Quote

(I will para phrase) ....some sites want you to oversaturate your images so they look better as thumbnails. I began to wonder if this poster knew the difference in the different color profiles like Adobe 1998 and sRGB. I mention theses profiles because they look entirely different side by side on the web. sRGB looks more saturated.

That was me, and yes I understand the different color profiles. I have mine set to Adobe RGB in Photoshop but still notice a large amount of color degradation in the thumbnails of most of the big 6 agencies. So if most of them are using Adobe 1998 and I am using Adobe 1998, why is the color so much duller when they make the thumbnails?

Title: Re: Sites want over saturated images?
Post by: epantha on May 25, 2008, 15:09

Here are some examples of what I'm talking about. What profile is Dreamstime using?

1. My original photo - Color space: RGB, Profile name: Adobe RGB (1998)
2. iStock preview - Color space: RGB, Profile name: sRGB IEC61966-2.1
3. Dreamstime preview - Color space: RGB, Profile name: (none listed)

After uploading the examples here (and clicking on them), my original looks closest in color to the IS preview. The DT preview has been sharpened and no profile is listed when you do a Get Info.

PS: My monitor is a LCD 21" Apple Cinema HD Display