Choosing a versatile Color Space for Color Correction

[Theiamania]

Hi everybody,
I'l like just to ask what do ypu suggest about choosing a versatile Color Space for Color Correction for these actual times in witch we have the necessity to deliver a lot of graphic asset formats (for Web and Print and Video...).
So,we should be work in Photoshop, to make Color Correction, assign a good Color profile (color space) as standard sRGB, or better, with Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGA as top quality.
Only the end, if we are ready with CC process, we should save some different .psd file versions as CMYK (for print issue), Rec. 709, (if we have to use photo in video), sRBG for web.
Is it a good choice/workflow, or I'm wrong...?

Many thanks for a reply!

Cheers

 

[Tom Mann]

I don't have time for a full response, but I suggest that for the most versatile color adjustments / correction, if you are starting with photos, save the images in raw data format (eg, *.nef, *.cr2, etc.), and then convert to either 16 bit per channel ProFoto (if it's a shot taken outside of well controlled studio conditions) or 16 bit per channel sRGB if the actual gamut of the image is small (eg, a conventional portrait taken with studio lighting).

If you are making your own graphics from scratch (ie, instead of from photos), my suggestion would be to use Adobe RGB from the start to almost the very end of the process.

Do all of your editing in one of these spaces, and keep these PSD files as your "masters".

Then, as your final step, do conversions (with soft proofing) to whatever spaces are required (eg, 8 bit sRGB for the web, CMYK for some commercial printers, Adobe RGB if you are output to your own high quality local printer and its driver can make use of Adobe RGB, etc.).

BTW, in your post, you used the phrase, "assign a good color profile ...". "Assigning a profile" has a very specific meaning and should almost never be necessary. One only assigns profiles when an image comes to you without a profile and you either have to guess, or someone tells you what profile was intended.

In contrast, one often selects an appropriate working space, and regularly converts from the working space to an output profile.

T

 

[Theiamania]

Okay T,
but something i haven't understand. What you mean exactly with:

If you are making your own graphics from scratch (ie, instead of from photos), my suggestion would be to use Adobe RGB from the start to almost the very end of the process.

...?

About Color Profile (Edit/Color Profile) I meant just what yuo say we shouldn't change... (if I have rightly understand.....) Color Profile / Working space. But what does it means?
So, if I'm right, when I work with RAW file (Linear colour space) , Photoshop let me choose to work in ACR (Linear colour space) or it converts RAW file in sRGB (.psd) . Then, inside sRGB color space, we can choose a specific profile as Adobe RGB, ProPhoto and so on... is to right or I'm in full confusion...?:redface::redface::redface:

OKAY, I found the right way to understand.
In Image/Mode you can choose the Color Space (called also Working Space) you want to use. (Commonly RGB for all use. CMYK ONLY for printing.)

In Edit/Assign Colour, you can choose a specific profile WITHIN the specified Color Space chosen in Image/Mode.
Right, if you don't have any Color management of your imported image, you have to assign it in a Edit/Assign Colour.

So,




therefore, for the reasons we have said, I think a good workflow is to work in a .psd file with RGB colour space, choosing a Adobe RGB o Pro Photo profile to improve quality for all purposes. At the end of editing process. We can create a different .psd or simply save specific file (from Master .psd) a CMKY version (choosing a requested CMYK profile) for printing, a sRGB, for WEB, REC 709 for Video use, and so on...
I think this is a correct basic workflow. Is it right?

 

[Tom Mann]

Yup, I think you got it!

Tom

 

[Theiamania]

Great, many thnaks Tom!