Changing embedded gamuts to enhance photos.

[lkroll]

I do not know if this tutorial has been posted by others, but I've used this technique more then a few times and would like to share it with you. I posted on DPReview, but I wanted to share it with you all as well.


First, before you open your image, you need to disable embedded profiles. Edit >> Color Settings::

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9868/firstfb4.jpg

Now, open your image and Assign the Profile (can try any of them; I usually just use aRGB, but Wide Gamut gave better result on your image); Edit >> Assign Profile:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8091/secondpa9.jpg

Finally, need to convert to sRGB so you can share your capture with the rest of us. Edit >> Convert to Profile:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2041/finallyuv8.jpg


Now this technique doesn't work on all images, but I've found a whole lot of images that benefits from this technique. Try it for yourself. I attached precaptures for the above links just in case ImageShack no longer hosts them.

[gi1976]

Looks interesting but I don't understand how it does enhance a photo? (probably my English lol)
Can you please tell or show more about this technique?

[Nick Tuason]

Because when you assign profiles, the PS numbers stay the same but get mapped to a different color space thus changing the colors of the image. If you assign to Pro Photo or Wide Gamut RGB, this space will saturate colors. sRGB or maybe Apple RGB is a reduced gamut space so the mapped into these spaces will produce more muted colors.

[pavel123]

Lyle,

Thank you so much for the information. The results are quite specular.
I usually use Lab Color if I need to boost the colors as it gives a high degree of control... manipulations with Lab Color, however, require quite a few actions... This works as a quick way to boost colors on a flat image...

Pavel

[gi1976]

Thank you for the information and explanation. I am going to try it out

[lkroll]

Thanks for all the pos responses. I don't believe I'm the first one to discover this trick, but I'm glad that I did and am very happy others can get a boost from it too.