27 Replies Latest reply: Mar 8, 2011 5:50 AM by WolfDUK RSS

    Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem

    William LaMartin Community Member

      On one of my computers, my desktop computer, when I do anything (resize, for example) with an image with Photoshop CS5, 32-bit or 64-bit, save the image as a .jpg and then insert the image into a new message in Microsoft Outlook 2007, the inserted image has a reddish cast.  This started several days ago.  It is only a problem on this desktop computer.

       

      Still on the desktop computer, if I take the same image and resize it in the Microsoft Paint program, then insert it into a the same Outlook message, everything is fine. 

       

      If I go to my laptop and open Photoshop there and resize an image, save it and then insert it into the email message back on the desktop computer, the cast is reddish. However, if I take this same image that was resized by Photoshop and insert it into a new message in Outlook on the laptop, everything is fine.

       

      The situation is the same for Microsoft Word 2007

       

      Something is going on between Photoshop and Outlook/Word on the desktop computer.  Any ideas?

       

      Thanks

        • 1. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
          Noel Carboni Community Member

          Some questions to determine if this could be an issue because of color-management settings or misconceptions:

           

          1.  What is the source of your image?

           

          2.  What document color space (profile) are you using for your image?

           

          3.  What kind of monitor do you have?

           

          4.  What display profile are you using (i.e., have you calibrated and profiled your monitor)?

           

          Keep in mind Photoshop transforms the colors in your document per a combination of the document profile and your monitor profile - this is called color management.  Word/Outlook are not color-managed (as far as I know), so they will just be sending the color values from within the image directly to the monitor.

           

          -Noel

          • 2. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
            William LaMartin Community Member

            Thanks for the reply.

             

            1.  The source of the image (3872 px x 2592 px) is a jpeg file produced by a Nikon D200.  No editing has been done.  If I simply insert this file into Outlook, then it displays fine.  If I simply open the file in Photoshop CS5 and then save is under a different name at quality 8 and then insert the rsulting image into Outlook, the result is a very off color image.

             

            I have been editing such images in Photoshop for years and inserting them into Outlook with good results.  Now something has changed on this particular computer so that I get off color images.  A similar process gives no problem on my laptop.

             

            I do not believe it is a Photoshop problem, but rather an Outlook (and Microsoft Word) problem on this particular computer. What is interesting is that I can open the original image file in the Microsoft Paint program, resize it and save it with the resulting image looking fine when inserted into Outlook (or Word). Some setting somewhere must have gotten changed. Or I can insert the problem file in an email message in Outlook on my laptop with no problem.

             

            2.  The color profile of the image is sRGB IEC61966-2.1

             

            3. The monitor is a Samsung SyncMaster P2350

             

            4.I have not calibrated this monitor since y Huey Pro software does not like windows 7 and I have yet to look into that.   so I think the monitor is using the Samsung National Color Pro profile.

             

            However, I don't think any of this really matters, since everything was working fine on this new computer for the past three months until about 10 days ago--the last time I successfully inserted an image with no color problem.

            • 3. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
              Noel Carboni Community Member

              Can you capture a screen shot showing the difference and post it here?  It might become more clear what you're seeing and trigger some additional responses.

               

              -Noel

              • 4. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                William LaMartin Community Member

                I have discovered a partial fix for the problem. It has something to do with the sRGB color profile since the image on the left, which has the reddish tint, was one that I had many months back resized and saved from Photoshop.  The image on the right is this same resized and saved image that I reloaded into Photoshop and saved again--but this time I unchecked the box in Save As about using an ICC profile.

                 

                How the ICC profile would make a difference in Outlook and Word is a mystery to me since I didn't think they paid attention to it.

                 

                ColorProblemExample.jpg

                • 5. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                  Noel Carboni Community Member

                  The image on the left looks suspiciously like what one sees when a printer is set up incorrectly so that both Photoshop and printer drivers apply a color transform (sometimes referred to as "double profiling", though that's a bit of a misnomer).

                   

                  I don't have Office 2007, so I can't say what color-management capabilities it might have.

                   

                  What you say is right for Outlook/Word 2003, which I have...  It seems obvlivious to an embedded profile.

                   

                  -Noel

                  • 6. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                    William LaMartin Community Member

                    So, it appears that Outlook and Word 2007 do not like images that I have saved with the sRGB profile.  But those images appear fine in Photoshop.  And they appear fine in Outlook and word 2007 on my laptop.

                     

                    Is it possible there is something wrong with the sRGB profile on the computer where there is a problem--or would that make the images also appear reddish in Photoshop?

                     

                    So far, I have not been able to determine in Outlook and Word 2007 use the sRGB profile--but it certainly seems that it causes a problem (unless there is something wrong with my sRGB profile).

                    • 7. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                      Silkrooster Community Member

                      Are you using a color calibration device? My thought is photoshop is using the correct color profile and word/outlook are ignorning it.

                      • 8. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                        Noel Carboni Community Member
                        function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}

                        Silkrooster wrote:


                        Are you using a color calibration device? My thought is photoshop is using the correct color profile and word/outlook are ignorning it.

                         

                        That wouldn't explain a difference in display of an image by Word without a color profile vs. the same image with an embedded color profile.

                         

                        William, compare the actual sRGB IEC61966-2.1 profile file on your laptop to the one on your desktop.  The file supplied by Microsoft (originally created by HP) is located here:

                         

                        C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\sRGB Color Space Profile.icm

                         

                        -Noel

                        • 9. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                          William LaMartin Community Member

                          I am not using a color calibration device on this computer since the Huey Pro I have doesn't want to work in Win 7, although when I first tried it it appeared to.  Now when I try to use it, I get a message about going to the Pantone site and getting an update.   However, the Pantone site also doesn't seem to function properly, and no update is produced.  So I think I will give up on the Huey and eventually purchase a different calibration product.

                           

                          I think my problem is really a problem with Word and Outlook.  Notice the two images below of the Outlook 2007 Ribbon.  In the top, when on the Home tab (or any other such tab), there is no reddish color. However, if the email has an inserted image and I click on the image, The Picture tools pop up and you will notice the reddish color of the Format tab. This is the case for any mage--even ones with no imbedded ICC profile.

                           

                          Something has happened in Word and Outlook.  Possibly by doing a system restore to a date when I could send inline photos that had been edited by Photoshop and saved with the sRGB profile I can fix things.  I think going back to around Dec. 24th would be such a date.

                           

                          Picture Tools Color problem for email.jpg

                          • 10. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                            William LaMartin Community Member

                            Discard my post about the color of the tabs in Outlook.  The situation is the same for them on my laptop where the image insertion has no problems.

                            • 11. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                              William LaMartin Community Member

                              I will look into comparing the sRGB profile file on my laptop with the same on my computer with the problem as soon as I figure out how to do that byte by byte--even if I have to write a program to do it.  But there should be utility somewhere to accomplish such.

                               

                              Thankis for all the ideas.

                              • 12. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                William LaMartin Community Member

                                I have used the Windows comp function at the command prompt to compare the two sRGB, and it says that "they compare OK".

                                 

                                So I am back to the idea of restoring the computer to an earlier date.

                                • 13. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                  Noel Carboni Community Member

                                  That may be your best bet.  I am out of ideas at this point.

                                   

                                  It's almost as if the Office tools are somehow trying to embrace color management, but they just don't have it quite right yet.  I'm kind of glad I've stayed with Office 2003 so far.

                                   

                                  -Noel

                                  • 14. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                    William LaMartin Community Member

                                    I had no problem with Office 2007 and Photoshop until about 10 days back.

                                     

                                    The EXIF data below might be of interest.  Saving with the sRGB ICC profile embedded adds a good bit more than just the info about sRGB it seems.

                                     

                                     

                                    These top few items (above the dotted line) are the areas of the EXIF data in an image file that was saved in Photoshop CS5 with no ICC profile embeded where there are differences with the EXIF data (below the dotted line) in the same image file that was saved in Photoshop CS5 with the sRGB ICC profile embeded.

                                     

                                    Flashpix Version                : 0100
                                    Color Space                     : Uncalibrated
                                    Exif Image Width                : 3872
                                    Exif Image Height               : 2592
                                    Sensing Method                  : One-chip color area
                                    File Source                     : Digital Camera

                                    Color Mode                      : RGB
                                    Date Created                    : 2010:12:29 13:29:02.073

                                    History Changed                 : /, /
                                    DCT Encode Version              : 100


                                    --------------------------------------------

                                    Flashpix Version                : 0100
                                    Color Space                     : sRGB
                                    Exif Image Width                : 3872
                                    Exif Image Height               : 2592
                                    Interoperability Index          : R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
                                    Interoperability Version        : 0100
                                    Sensing Method                  : One-chip color area
                                    File Source                     : Digital Camera

                                    Color Mode                      : RGB
                                    ICC Profile Name                : sRGB IEC61966-2.1
                                    Date Created                    : 2010:12:29 13:29:02.073

                                    History Changed                 : /, /
                                    Profile CMM Type                : Lino
                                    Profile Version                 : 2.1.0
                                    Profile Class                   : Display Device Profile
                                    Color Space Data                : RGB
                                    Profile Connection Space        : XYZ
                                    Profile Date Time               : 1998:02:09 06:49:00
                                    Profile File Signature          : acsp
                                    Primary Platform                : Microsoft Corporation
                                    CMM Flags                       : Not Embedded, Independent
                                    Device Manufacturer             : IEC
                                    Device Model                    : sRGB
                                    Device Attributes               : Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color
                                    Rendering Intent                : Perceptual
                                    Connection Space Illuminant     : 0.9642 1 0.82491
                                    Profile Creator                 : HP
                                    Profile ID                      : 0
                                    Profile Copyright               : Copyright (c) 1998 Hewlett-Packard Company
                                    Profile Description             : sRGB IEC61966-2.1
                                    Media White Point               : 0.95045 1 1.08905
                                    Media Black Point               : 0 0 0
                                    Red Matrix Column               : 0.43607 0.22249 0.01392
                                    Green Matrix Column             : 0.38515 0.71687 0.09708
                                    Blue Matrix Column              : 0.14307 0.06061 0.7141
                                    Device Mfg Desc                 : IEC http://www.iec.ch
                                    Device Model Desc               : IEC 61966-2.1 Default RGB colour space - sRGB
                                    Viewing Cond Desc               : Reference Viewing Condition in IEC61966-2.1
                                    Viewing Cond Illuminant         : 19.6445 20.3718 16.8089
                                    Viewing Cond Surround           : 3.92889 4.07439 3.36179
                                    Viewing Cond Illuminant Type    : D50
                                    Luminance                       : 76.03647 80 87.12462
                                    Measurement Observer            : CIE 1931
                                    Measurement Backing             : 0 0 0
                                    Measurement Geometry            : Unknown (0)
                                    Measurement Flare               : 0.999%
                                    Measurement Illuminant          : D65
                                    Technology                      : Cathode Ray Tube Display
                                    Red Tone Reproduction Curve     : (Binary data 2060 bytes, use -b option to extract)
                                    Green Tone Reproduction Curve   : (Binary data 2060 bytes, use -b option to extract)
                                    Blue Tone Reproduction Curve    : (Binary data 2060 bytes, use -b option to extract)
                                    DCT Encode Version              : 100

                                    • 15. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                      Paulo Skylar Community Member

                                      Microsoft Office programs ( Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneNote  that I know about for sure) do respect and use color profiles. Paste into Word the same image saved in Photoshop with different profiles and they render the "same". Put the same images in any program which either does not support profiles, or has that feature turned off, and you will convince yourself with the differences seen.

                                       

                                      How far back does this go in Office? Not sure, but I did come across the following for Office 2000

                                       

                                      What formats are supported?

                                      Word, Excel, and PowerPoint use ICM 2.0 services. Images in bitmap  (BMP), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), and Portable Network  Graphics (PNG) formats are interpreted in the color space described by  their embedded color information, including International Color  Consortium (ICC) profiles. However, the embedded color information for  Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) and encapsulated PostScript (EPS) format  is not handled and the image is interpreted as if it were in sRGB  space. On-screen, ICM 2.0 is applied only to bitmap images (not text or  vector graphics), whereas in print, ICM is applied to all content if the  printer driver supports it. ICM 2.0 also works in conjunction with  other color modifications, such as brightness, contrast, and grayscale.

                                       

                                      Paulo

                                      • 16. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                        William LaMartin Community Member

                                        I have decided to put this to rest and live with it. It is only a minor inconvenience with no obvious solution.

                                         

                                        I attempted a system restore to one day before the last time I could do an insertion of a picture (that had been saved via Photoshop with an embedded ICC profile) into Outlook without it having a red cast. Well, after the system restore when the computer rebooted all hell broke loose.  My left monitor showed a bunch of wavy lines and was a light blue.  And on the right monitor (the secondary one), there was a message about a failure to either restore properly or to start properly (I can't remember).  And there was an additional message about trying to repair things and possibly restore to a good point.  I told it to go ahead.  And the result was a working computer that appears to have been restored to the day before I attempted the original restore.

                                        • 17. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                          Noel Carboni Community Member
                                          function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}

                                          William LaMartin wrote:


                                          the result was a working computer that appears to have been restored to the day before I attempted the original restore.

                                           

                                          Can't quite tell from what you wrote...  Does the red cast issue still exist after that restore?

                                           

                                          -Noel

                                          • 18. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                            William LaMartin Community Member

                                            I still have the red cast. The system restore to a date that might have fixed things caused a system crash with the fix for that being a system restore to just one day before the attempt at restoration.

                                             

                                            It is an interesting problem.  And similar to what you earlier said that it reminded you of : "The image on the left looks suspiciously like what one sees when a printer is set up incorrectly so that both Photoshop and printer drivers apply a color transform"

                                             

                                            It reminds me of the problem I have with my Epson stylus Photo 2200 printer if I use ICC profiles:  In the print preview supplied by the printer driver, the image has a red cast but still prints properly.  This was a problem in Win XP, and Epson chose not to fix this in the driver for Win 7.  Who knows?  Perhaps the Outlook/Word problem is somehow related to this.  I ignore this by having the printer driver not supply a preview and just do with the preview in Photoshop.

                                            • 19. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                              Joprysko Community Member

                                              I am trying to find something that issue reminds me of that this issue may be related to. It has to do with the way MS Office its self handles embedded imaging. But I am not having a lot of luck, could be its not enough coffee and too early in the morning to think right.

                                               

                                              If i remember correctly it does not support certain formats, like CMYK images. Then it does its own post processing making the image look like ... well  you know.

                                               

                                               

                                              I'll keep looking see if i can find it.

                                              • 20. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                William LaMartin Community Member

                                                I don't believe it is related, in general, to the way Office handles embedded images since on Dec. 24 I was able to send messages in Outlook with embedded images that had been earlier saved by Photoshop with an embedded ICC profile and the images appeared fine, but on Dec. 31 and subsequently, all such images had the reddish cast. And this is only on my desktop computer--not the laptop.  Something changed on my computer between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.

                                                 

                                                I suspected updates to the computer, but there were no updates installed between those dates.  I did install the Java Development Kit, Eclipse and the Android Development kit so as to be able to play with programming the Android phones. But I also installed those programs on the laptop, and again there is no problem there.

                                                 

                                                It is as if some setting in Office got changed, and I can't locate it to change it back. Well, it is a minor problem as computer problems go.

                                                • 21. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                  Joprysko Community Member

                                                  Do me a favor and check In photoshop just to be sure make sure you are in RGB mode and not CMYK.

                                                   

                                                   

                                                  Its Image > Mode then the options are there cause here is an example as to why.

                                                   

                                                   

                                                   

                                                  RGB or CMYK.png

                                                   

                                                  Sorry if the picture offends, anyone just what i am working on atm. lol

                                                  • 22. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                    William LaMartin Community Member

                                                    All the images in question are in RGB and 8 bits/channel

                                                    • 23. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                      Joprysko Community Member

                                                      Ok, well if its something in the office package its self a couple things you can check.

                                                       

                                                       

                                                      Right click on the image and choose format picture. Just check every option and reset any that have changed.

                                                       

                                                      I am using 2010 so its similar to your set up but not identical, but I suspect the options may be the same. May want to see if any new updates are out for your version of office as well.

                                                       

                                                       

                                                      Untitled-2.png

                                                      • 24. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                        WolfDUK

                                                        I had exactly the same problem, and it was driving me mad - each time I forgot to uncheck the "sRGB IEC61966" box when saving from CS4, the images would have a reddish or yellowish tint in Word and Powerpoint 2007.

                                                         

                                                        I just found a solution that worked for me: In Windows (Vista) colour management, I had selected "sRGB IEC61966-2.1" as the default in the "Devices" tab. But then I checked, for the first time, the "Advanced" tab, and there the Windows System Color Defaults Device Profile was set to something elese. Change it to sRGB (as shown below) and immediately the image colours in Word - in an open document even - changed exactly to what all other programs, including CS, show.

                                                         

                                                        CM2.jpg

                                                        • 25. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                          William LaMartin Community Member

                                                          Thank you very much. I knew there had to be a simple solution, and you found it.

                                                           

                                                          In my Color Management on the advanced tab, the Device profile had been set to the Epson paper I use a lot for photo printing, Sp2200 Premium Glossy_PK

                                                          • 26. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                            William LaMartin Community Member

                                                            Thank you very much. I knew there had to be a simple solution, and you found it.

                                                             

                                                            In my Color Management on the advanced tab, the Device profile had been set to the Epson paper I use a lot for photo printing, Sp2200 Premium Glossy_PK

                                                            • 27. Re: Insert Image in Microsoft Outlook and Photoshop Problem
                                                              WolfDUK Community Member

                                                              You're very welcome, always happy to share... it was just lucky that I did a search and found this discussion this morning, and then afterwards stumbled across the solution for this problem :-)