LR3 vs Jpeg Display Problem *** SOLVED (I Think) ***

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GaryK26

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Gary
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Having done a high key studio shoot yesterday, I am now tearing my hair out with the following problem.....

In LR3 the images (shot in RAW) look good, but when I then export to Jpeg using sRGB and Quality 100, the resulting image has a dictinct (and unpleasing) difference between the white of the floor and backdrop. This was actually a seamless vinyl backdrop onto the floor.

It has been suggested that my monitor (Dell with IPC panel) is not setup correctly, but I have even re-calibrated (using Spyder 2) this afternoon, but the problem is still there.
Anyway, if my monitor was not calibrated correctly, then I would still expect to see the same in LR and JPEG.

Examples of the problem can be seen on http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=354153

Any help / advice / suggestions would be much appreciated.
Of course, I can correct the image in LR or CS5, but my point is more concerned with the difference between the LR & JPeg.

Thanks
Gary
 
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Well, after much stressing I decided to email Scott Kelby for advice, but didn't hold my breath in getting a reply.
But, hey presto, an email from Scott arrived in my inbox tonight....

"When you're seeing those images in Lightroom, you're likely seeing them at 16-bit images in Pro Photo RGB mode. When you save them as a JPEG, they're now 8-bit images in sRGB mode, and that could certainly be the difference. My question is: how do the Lightroom images look when you open them in Photoshop? (In Lightroom, click on a photo and press Command-E if you have a Mac, or Ctrl-E if you have a Windows PC).

Let me know what that looks like, and we'll see if anything can be done."

So, I tried out the suggetsion with various LR editor export settings 8/16 bit and also TIFF / PSD. Still no difference :thumbsdown:

Then I had a eureka moment.....

I normally have the workspace backgrounds in LR & CS5 set to black - the Windows 7 Photo Viewer has a light grey background.
Now I may be imagining things but I swear that when I change LR & CS5 backgrounds to light grey or white the difference between the backdrop and floor is appears to be more noticeable.

Now, if this correct and I'm not imagining it, then I hope that this information may help some fellow TP'ers (it may already be a known fact that I simply did not know).

I've replied to Scott with my findings / threory and it will be interesting to see what he has to say - I'll report back if I hear from him.
 
I did not believe you until I tried to view your shots from the link above in the forum Black theme....it does make a difference.

I reckon it is down to colour space, how I don't know but it is strange.
 
That is one excellent video and probably is something like the effect that I'm getting.

Notice how the in the starting position, the square has dark squares along each edge - like my black workspace background. In this position the square looks to be light - like my floor appears to be lighter, giving the impression that there is little difference between the floor and the backdrop.

The square is then moved to a position with white squares along each edge - like my white workspace background. In this position the square looks to be dark - like my floor appears to be darker, giving the impression that there is quite a noticable difference between the floor and backdrop.

Actually it's quite a freaky demostration of illusions. Probably something to do with how our brains "see" not only the subject of interest (the square or my floor) and how the enviroment affects our perception of the subject.
I guess that the same principle would also apply if I was using a low key set up - except that it would be reversed - ie, would look ok with white workspace and issues would show up on a black workspace.

So, back to my "problem"....
Which is correct? My original version of the image, or one that has been processed (lifting the brightness of the floor)?
It is almost unquestionably the latter, BUT if I knew that the client was going to put the print in a dark frame and/or hang on a dark wall, then I could get away with leaving the floor as-is :lol:

Oh well, at least we have got to the bottom of the problem, and I will certainly use lighter workspace bamckgrounds from now on (although I do like having it black!)
 
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