Adobe RGB v sRGB

[Patrick]

Went to a very interesting workshop last Friday, by ColourConfidence as part of the evening Adobe RGB and sRGB were discussed.
Now I have been a firm advocate of Adobe RGB but what I leaned Friday threw me off balance.
Bearing in mind these people specialize in colour management I was very surprised to note they would recommend sRGB over Adobe RGB colour space.
They accept RGB is the wider space they argue sRGB is easily controlled.
They did however add a footnote saying if any photographer was getting the results they want using Adobe RGB then don't change because they say so, but did suggest the individual test it out for themselves.
Simple take a picture with plenty of colour variety in both modes, and see where it takes them. Which is fair enough.
They did tell a story of how in the studio the speaker in his pro photo days was photographing a Red Ferrari, but try as they may, even with top well profiled equipment at their disposal, the car would always print dark red/maroon.
2 days they struggled, until an inexperienced helper suggested conversion to sRGB these experts laughed but to their surprise when they tried it, it printed the true Ferrari Red.
He did go on to explain why, something to do with the bigger space leading to bigger steps.
Also to my surprise Monitors, scanners and printers are all sRGB so it makes sense if the camera colour space is also sRGB.

I shall be doing some test myself

Patrick

[norn iron]

Re: Adobe RGB v sRGB

Interesting Patrick,

Please let us know how you get on with the tests.

Ken

[Ian]

Re: Adobe RGB v sRGB

Went to a very interesting workshop last Friday, by ColourConfidence as part of the evening Adobe RGB and sRGB were discussed.
Now I have been a firm advocate of Adobe RGB but what I leaned Friday threw me off balance.
Bearing in mind these people specialize in colour management I was very surprised to note they would recommend sRGB over Adobe RGB colour space.
They accept RGB is the wider space they argue sRGB is easily controlled.
They did however add a footnote saying if any photographer was getting the results they want using Adobe RGB then don't change because they say so, but did suggest the individual test it out for themselves.
Simple take a picture with plenty of colour variety in both modes, and see where it takes them. Which is fair enough.
They did tell a story of how in the studio the speaker in his pro photo days was photographing a Red Ferrari, but try as they may, even with top well profiled equipment at their disposal, the car would always print dark red/maroon.
2 days they struggled, until an inexperienced helper suggested conversion to sRGB these experts laughed but to their surprise when they tried it, it printed the true Ferrari Red.
He did go on to explain why, something to do with the bigger space leading to bigger steps.
Also to my surprise Monitors, scanners and printers are all sRGB so it makes sense if the camera colour space is also sRGB.

I shall be doing some test myself

Patrick

I fear that if a seminar on colour space left you confused, it can't have been a very good one!

If they said that all monitors, scanners and printers are all sRGB, that's really not at all helpful. If that was the case, then what is the point of any colour space greater in dimension than sRGB?

It's a generalisation that monitors and printers work better with sRGB, but in fact some monitors and printers can accommodate a wider space than sRGB and you can see the difference. Also, by working in a wider space, you can always convert to a narrower space like sRGB when required.

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: Adobe RGB v sRGB

I fear that if a seminar on colour space left you confused, it can't have been a very good one!
If they said that all monitors, scanners and printers are all sRGB, that's really not at all helpful. If that was the case, then what is the point of any colour space greater in dimension than sRGB?
It's a generalisation that monitors and printers work better with sRGB, but in fact some monitors and printers can accommodate a wider space than sRGB and you can see the difference. Also, by working in a wider space, you can always convert to a narrower space like sRGB when required.

Ian

I didn't say I was confused just a few things I thought I knew were challenged that's all.

It can't be said ColourConfidence are not experienced in the subject after all they are one of Europe's leaders in the field of colour management, so I expect they know one or two things about the subject.

If what they say about Monitors, scanners and printers is correct then it is helpful, The point they were making was why use anything wider than sRGB for our photo printing when our monitors & printers work in sRGB anyway. They went on to say Adobe RGB was developed not for photographer but the printing industry.

I have read something of the debate before regarding the value of sRGB v Adobe RGB and had largely ignored it. ColourConfidence encourage us to test for ourselves if one is better than the other.

Interestingly they asked who used sRGB and who RGB, then asked those of us (I have used Adobe RGB for a long time now) why we use Adobe RGB the majority answer was because they were told it was better.
Which is why he said test it for yourself, they were not dogmatic about it, just see for yourself.

Digital photography is still very much in its infancy and much is accepted at face value, so when some one challenges a particular practice and then says see for yourself by testing for yourself. If after testing better results are still obtained with adobe RGB stick with it, that's is a strong argument and a confidant one.

I am a believer in proving things for yourself rather than being told. After all those of use that have done our photography in the dark room will know we tested developers and films to find the combination that suited out needs best and so it should be with colour space.

Patrick