Understanding Color Space and How It Affects Your Photos

Do you understand the differences in color spaces? Have you ever exported a photo out of Adobe Photoshop after some editing, and once you upload it online, the colors appear to be completely different? Perhaps the colors now look muted and dull?

Years ago, when I first started uploading my work online, I would notice some of the photos' colors were not completely matching with what I had intended. At that time, I didn't quite understand the difference between them and just kept them like that. If you have experienced the same issues, hopefully after watching this video from Unmesh Dinda with PiXimperfect, you will have a better understanding. Dinda explains the color limits of each color space and why your photos could be shifting colors. 

So, what's the solution? What's the best color space to use? Dinda provides two different methods in which you can export your photos to stop your images from drastically shifting colors, but ultimately, the choice is yours. Where the images are going may help determine what best choice for you is.   

What color space do you export your work out to? Are you exporting multiple copies in different color spaces or using just one? 

Alex Ventura's picture

Staff writer Alex Ventura is a professional photographer based out of the Houston area that specializes in automotive and glamour with the occasional adventures into other genres. He regularly covers automotive related events for Houston Streets & Spekture with some publications in the United States.

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4 Comments

I REALLY like that guy.

really helpful, thank you

If you print images colour space becomes incredibly important

If you ASSIGN it, you'll really screw the color up. If you CONVERT, it will (typically) look like nothing happened. I find that rather weird.

If you're stuff is going to web, it's best to retouch and color correct in sRGB. You'll save yourself lots of hassles.