Dull photos?

[SevenWonkas]

Hi everyone! I am sorry for posting something that may be a little off-topic, but I don't know the technical term for this so I can't really search google for a solution! I've seen some of the wonderful photography from you guys, so I thought I would try asking this question here.

When I view my digital photos as a thumbnail, they look great... Vivid colors, etc. However, if I open the photo in any sort of viewing program (Photoshop, Windows Photo Viewer), they don't look the same. The only way I can describe it is that it's duller... The colors are less vibrant, and almost have a browner tint to them. When uploaded to facebook, they look vibrant!

What I hate about this the most, is that it makes photo editing more difficult because I am adjusting things that may not need adjusting. I am BRAND NEW to photoshop (elements), so it's making the learning curve that much more difficult!

For your info, all my photos are .jpg files. I have not tried to calibrate my screen yet, but wanted to see if there might me another explanation.

 

[wdwmagic]

Can you post a large version here so we can see?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Sounds like color profiles. Its a setting in an editing program i believe.

 

[wdwmagic]

Sounds like color profiles. Its a setting in an editing program i believe.

I thought that at first as well, but he says he has the same problem in more than one program :shrug: COuld be a color profile problem in all them of course.

 

[DisneyDadof5]

Check your monitor for temperature profiles. Also, adjust your brightness, sharpness, and contrast back to the middle (0 on some, 50 on others). Then try out the different temp profiles, and adjusting of the options above, until they start matching your photos.

The last company I was with published a member's magazine, and I had to do similar to correct the photo editor's PC system.

 

[SevenWonkas]

Thanks guys, it is the monitor's profile. I feel silly. Once I went to check it out I read the annoying Windows "pop up" that occurs each time I try to edit in Photoshop... It had been telling me the whole time that the profile was defective. I had always clicked on "use anyway" not wanting to mess anything up, but when clicking "ignore profile" the pictures looked like they should. I've never had a pop-up with the Windows Photo Viewer, but pictures in this program look the same as Photoshop. Frustrating. Now I just have to calibrate my monitor.

 

[E P C O T]

Void.

 

[bento]

photos usually really do look better at smaller sizes. the noise is less noticeable at smaller sizes like in the LCD of the camera.

Try shooting at lower ISO because higher ISO usually tend to be grainier and colors lose their real saturation.

 

[unkadug]

Woah....all of his posts are identical and they are ALL spam!!