Digital Camera Settings: Color Space

There are a number of optional settings in the camera menu that can affect image quality later when you process and make prints. One has to do with the image “profile” in terms of color. In the matter under discussion here profile refers to a certain “color space,” or the type and range of colors that will be captured. 

Your digital camera probably has a number of “default”, or factory settings. One of them is called color space. But like many defaults, there may be optional settings you can make. The two most common color profiles are sRGB and Adobe RGB. The term profile refers to a certain set of characteristics that can be read by the microprocessor and displayed on the monitor.

Simply put, color space defines, in part, how the camera sees and processes a range of colors. The sRGB profile is a bit “tighter” in its color vision, offering rich, saturated colors, yet with a certain clipping of subtle hue differentiation. Adobe RGB is a bit wider in the color gamut it sees and records, and colors tend to be more neutral, and, some would say, more natural in their effect, yet in all Adobe RGB offers more subtle color differentiation.

The general rule is that if you are someone who processes their images in advanced software like Photoshop for prints or reproduction, choose Adobe RGB. This is the color space that simply records more color information, but assumes that you will process the image later. When you load an image into software to process you will have assigned a profile that the program will recognize. It is a pro type of profile and is often the one requested by publications and photo stock agencies for image submission. Some photographers change the default from sRGB to Adobe RGB in their camera menu and leave it there, and then perform any saturation and contrast changes later.

There is nothing inherently wrong with shooting sRGB, and in fact only advanced monitors will show you any difference. But if you want to immerse yourself in advanced shooting techniques and image processing, or your aim is to get images published in books and magazines or offer them for sale, go into the Color Space option in your camera menu and switch to Adobe RGB. If you shoot mainly for the web or sharing of some sort, then sRGB will be fine. Note that most monitors will not show any difference but pro monitors will; in fact, many allow you to split the view with one side being sRGB and the other Adobe RGB, and allow you to easily convert an Adobe RGB to an sRGB profile if you choose the image for web use.

The subtle tonal and color differentiation in this photo requires a color rendering mode that will capture all the various shades and tones it offers. The brighter tones such as the reflective glass and white umbrella should be separate and distinct, and the variations in red hues should be apparent. It is a study in color and tonal values that benefits from choosing Adobe RGB color space.

Settings: Adobe RGB color space: at ISO 200, f/6.3 at 1/200 second, RAW, 16-bit file.

This extreme macro shot relies on subtle differentiation to portray the various tones and shades of color. Since it was shot using RAW format, more saturation can easily be added if desired. Using Adobe RGB helps capture the subtle tones and colors, regardless of how the image might be processed later.

Settings: With a 60mm Macro lens, at ISO 320, f/2 at 1/800 second, Adobe RGB.

Most agencies and publishers will only accept Adobe RGB “profiles” for consideration. This overall view of Heidelberg, Germany, was shot specifically for “stock,” which means it was shot on speculation to be offered through sale through a picture agency. With an Adobe RGB profile the image offers more color differentiation and is the profile “language” that any potential client will seek.