Windows Photo Viewer does not show correct colours edited by Photoshop  

x509 said:

What is the size of your RAW files? Compressed? Which make and model DSLR?

As a photographer who shoots in RAW, and versed in color management, I can assure you your question has nothing to do with what the OP is talking about - regardless of size of RAW files or make/model of DSLR

@Diano,

Diano said:

3. If RAW file is edited in ACR & Opened Image to PS, no edit & then PS saved it as TIFF file,
A. The TIFF file size is doubled.
B. Photos CANNOT SHOW THE CORRECT COLOURS.

Does this tell anything about the issue?

Sound like you're not saving a color profile to the image, but....

BTW, and for clarity, are you processing your RAW files in Photoshop?

I process my RAW files in Adobe Lightroom, then import into Photoshop to finalize image. I'll have to process a RAW file in Photoshop to see what those procedures as I never use Photoshop to process my RAW files. That's me.

Diano said:

Mr. Sygnus21.

Thank you.

The following is some new findings:

1. RAW files processed in ACR and saved in TIFF format direct from ACR,
A. TIFF file size is around 60~70MB each file.
B. Photos can show the correct colours as edited in ACR.

2. TIFF file opened to PS & edited in PS & saved again as TIFF format,
A. TIFF file is about 80~95MB each file.
B. The TIFF file size is not doubled.
C. Photos can show the correct colours as edited in PS.

3. If RAW file is edited in ACR & Opened Image to PS, no edit & then PS saved it as TIFF file,
A. The TIFF file size is doubled.
B. Photos CANNOT SHOW THE CORRECT COLOURS.

Does this tell anything about the issue?

Thank you.
Diano

In these steps. a color space is selected implicitly or explicitly, and the default color space, in addition to the color buit depth (16 vs 8 bits) can be different through these different paths. Saving direct from ACR to Tiff vs. opening the file from ACR to Photoshop can use different default color spaces, as well as saving to a TIFF from photoshop. You need to be cognizant of these transformations. I am guessing the difference is that one is being saved as an 8 bit file and the other as 16 bit.

For example, if I try to save from ACR RAW directly to tiff, ACR defaults to 8 bit AdobeRGB conversion.
If convert from ACR to Photoshop, I have it convert to ProhotoRGB 16 bit color working space by default. If I then save that to tiff in Photoshop. without converting from 16 to 8 bit or converting the color space, it will be twice as large (as the 8 bit ACR -> TIFF) with the ProPhoto RGB color, which will look awful in Windows photo viewer, which is not color managed.

First off, it would be of great interest to know what version of Photoshop the OP is using as well as the ACR (Adobe Camera RAW) version. For the record, I'm using the latest subscription based version of Photoshop (2021). With that...

Geneo said:

For example, if I try to save from ACR RAW directly to tiff, ACR defaults to 8 bit AdobeRGB conversion.

Unless you set your ACR (Camera RAW Preferences), which you should if using ACR, Here's mine...

Geneo said:

If convert from ACR to Photoshop, I have it convert to ProhotoRGB 16 bit color working space by default.

Not if you choose to open the file directly into Photoshop. It will open as a RAW file with the changes you've made in ACR, and will use the custom ACR workspace you've set in Camera RAW Preferences ...


On the other hand if you choose to "Save Image", you will (should) get the "Save Options" panel where you set the settings for your saved files...


If you save those settings as a Preset, you can simply right click the image and choose the preset and the image will be save according to your saved option settings...

Geneo said:

If I then save that to tiff in Photoshop. without converting from 16 to 8 bit or converting the color space, it will be twice as large (as the 8 bit ACR -> TIFF) with the ProPhoto RGB color, which will look awful in Windows photo viewer, which is not color managed.

The image grows no matter the file type or bit depth due to the fact that you are moving from a smaller RAW file to larger format in a tiff file. The file is saved according to the settings in image 4 - here a 16-bit tiff file saved in the ProPhoto color space.

In the second (and forth) image you can see ACR reads the file as a 45meg (file seen by Windows is 93meg), but the file increase to 260 meg when saved. If I used the same settings but changed the bit depth to 8-bit, it is halved - 130meg. However, there is no drastic color shift.

The RAW file size (as seen in image 2 & 4) has grown from ACR's reading of 45meg (Windows shows 93meg) to a file size of 260meg. Keeping the same settings but changing the bit depth from 16 to 8-bit, the size is halved - 130meg. However, the colors don't change in any obvious way. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to notice any changes.

Also, as discussed above, the colors as seen in Photoshop are the same when viewed in the color managed Photo Viewer app as discussed in post #7 .

While I addressed your post, the info and images are more for the OP in addressing the questions posed in post #9.

Peace