5 Replies Latest reply: Sep 24, 2012 3:39 PM by trshaner RSS

    Wedding client proofing

    gomez1205

      Hi all,

       

      I wanted to get an idea what is a generally accepted way of creating jpg images for clients.  Particularly the average wedding clients who I give a CD and they will view it on their monitor.

       

      After I finish editing in lightroom I do the final export of my DNG images to jpg and then I do one last look at the final images. JPG, 90%, 10MP, and sRGB, sharpen monitor standard.

       

      When I look at the images I was using the default Windows Photo Viewer because I figure that's what the average person would use to view the images.  Windows Photo Viewer renders images awfully!!  You can tell it is very compressed because my images look grainer than they did in lightroom.

       

      So I tried switching to Microsoft Office Photo viewer and I realized that they were rendering it in a different color profile (it looks more red and saturated).

       

      I finally switched to Irfran Viewer becuase you can choose the color profile you view the images.  By choosing AdobeRGB (which is close to my monitor profile), I was able to view the images almost identically to what lightroom had before export.

       

      This is very frustrating.  I experimented with Lightrooms Soft Proof but that didn't really seem to provide insight.

       

      So my final question is, how to people typically export pictures and proof for normal clients?   Is the way I am doing it OK? 

       

      I understand the client will most likely not have their monitor calibrated and the correct profile in place, but years down the road when calibration because more standardized, I still want my pictures to look they way I had intended them!

        • 1. Re: Wedding client proofing
          RikkFlohr CommunityMVP

          These things are out of your control:

           

          1. The settings on the end-users device.

          2. The ability of whatever application they choose to read and manage an imbedded color profile.

           

          Given that, it is pretty much impossible to get the kind of control for which you are hoping.  The differences you are seeing on applications in your own experience is largely due to lack of or inclusion of Color Management by the software's manufacturer.

          • 2. Re: Wedding client proofing
            gomez1205 Community Member

            I suppose that was what I was asking.  So just because I export it as sRGB doesn't mean the client will view the jpg file and translate it as sRGB or the same color profile that I want them to view it. 

             

            I guess I was thinking that the sRGB carried with the file and told whatever program that was opening it whatever color space it was.

             

            Thanks.

            • 3. Re: Wedding client proofing
              RikkFlohr CommunityMVP

              Only if the program is capable of managing color profiles...

              Not all browsers can, and those who can are not necessarily enabled to be default...

              • 4. Re: Wedding client proofing
                Geoff the kiwi CommunityMVP

                BTW, I'd say 10MP is too big for the purpose and for what a lot of computers can handle comfortably.

                • 5. Re: Wedding client proofing
                  trshaner Community Member

                  gomez1205 wrote:

                   

                  I suppose that was what I was asking.  So just because I export it as sRGB doesn't mean the client will view the jpg file and translate it as sRGB or the same color profile that I want them to view it. 

                   

                  I guess I was thinking that the sRGB carried with the file and told whatever program that was opening it whatever color space it was.

                   

                  Thanks.

                  To gain more control over how your clients view the images why not use LR's slideshow module and export to PDF. If they don't have Adobe Reader it's simple enough to download and install it. Reader is color managed so the only variable is the customer's display adjustments.

                   

                  I also agree with Geoff concerning use of 10Mp images for client review. I'd use PDF export to no larger than 1600 x 1200, which is ~2Mp.