Why is new background desaturated?

[kevs]

I put a rich red desert in the background for a portrait.
What's weird is that the dersert that shows in the new composite flatter and less saturated that it normally looks.

Yet when I look at the portrait shot, it pure tranparent pixels on the sides where the new background is showing through, so I'm at a loss. thanks.
__________________
MAC 10.4.11
CS3

[Markzebra]

Different mode - look at your document profiles, chances are one doc is CMYK and one RGB

[kevs]

They were both RGB, just checked, thanks.

[Verywierd]

In your composite, if you hide the portrait layer how does the desert background look?

[Markzebra]

"They were both RGB" - same PROFILE RGB?

if this is not the solution then its might be something to do with your layer setup: adjustment layers floating around? Are you viewing the image at 100% at all times?

[kevs]

Thanks, I've deleted the file, so I'm going to try back when I have a live image, but tell me about 100%. At lower percentages, I know that things are not perfect as far as sharpness, but also color?

[Markzebra]

Yes there are subtle changes in color when photoshop has to recalculate adjustment layers and blend modes, and resample them on the fly for screen resolutions. Depends of course on your workflow, and maybe also on your graphics card. I've noticed that these problems seem to be less pronounced than they used to be. With regard to color, layer effects are particularly problematic in this area - safest percentages are 100% and 50%

[kevs]

Thanks, will make note of that.

[Kermy]

Have had this issue before. I now flatten the layered file by using convert to profile before i save a flattened file. Just for piece of mind and then I know that nothing is getting lost in the save as flattened method...