How to get deep reds in Lightroom. What am I doing wrong.

Are you converting the image to sRGB in export? Remember Lightroom can be defined to use a different color profile, by default its ProPhoto RGB at 16 bits of depth.

Browsers by default uses sRGB - which covers less of a gamut than ProPhoto RGB. I convert all my wedding commercial work into two color spaces for clients, one for web use (sRGB) and one for prints (AdobeRGB 1998).

Are you also color calibrating your monitor?

Not familiar with what Color Space management is? Check this link out: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori ... spaces.htm

CSAgent wrote: ↑Are you converting the image to sRGB in export? Remember Lightroom can be defined to use a different color profile, by default its ProPhoto RGB at 16 bits of depth.

Browsers by default uses sRGB - which covers less of a gamut than ProPhoto RGB. I convert all my wedding commercial work into two color spaces for clients, one for web use (sRGB) and one for prints (AdobeRGB 1998).

Are you also color calibrating your monitor?

Not familiar with what Color Space management is? Check this link out: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori ... spaces.htm

Yes, I am converting to SRGB. I was told by many labs that they are printing/converting to srgb. many even request only srgb so there's little point of converting to anything other. Plus most of us take photos to put them online and it has to look good online...


Either way, I see there are images of reds that look deep and red and as the images are online, they are srgb so it seems they know how to edit it so that it looks good and has all the information.


So the question stays, how do I edit a red dress so that it would have the deep reds and I can still see the fabric detail?

Can you post an example pic?

I found an example from a photographer
http://www.stevezavodny.com/clients/sat%27d.jpg

First, I believe playing with saturation and vibrance globally is risky, especially reds as your skin tones will start to look unnatural. That pretty much goes for any slider you push to the extreme. Whenever you have people, natural skin tone is a priority.

What I personally do is, if my untouched image is properly exposed, I open a copy beside Lr so I always can see the balanced skin.
I will adjust the sliders to a certain point before the skin looks fake compared to the original.

Then, if it's not enough and say I want to augment an article of clothing, I use the Adjustment Brush, checkmark "Show Selected Mask Overlay" which will put a red glow over anything you brush so you know exactly where it is being applied. Also check "Auto Mask" and it detects contrast, so it does a pretty good job of only colouring in the dress (you can Erase anything you bleed by mistake; make the brush smaller for tight spots). Once I have the dress fully brushed, I uncheck the Mask Overlay so I can see what's happening as I start playing with the sliders. You can then change anything Basic within the realm of the Adjustment Brush for the dress ONLY, many of which can brighten the red dress, make it more red (tint), more detailed, etc.

As always, be careful how far you take things especially if you've used a large aperture and the background is out of focus, anything you augment too much begs people to think the pic was "shopped".

Applying the above, you can selectively make something more red and detailed by increasing Tint to red, increasing Contrast/Shadows/Clarity/Saturation and Sharpness; decrease Highlights; Exposure can go either way if you want to brighten or deepen detail if it's blown out.

For more fine control of the sliders, tap on the value to highlight it, use the up/down arrows.

Although I appreciate the input, your answer has nothing to do with the question I asked. I think you didn't read the question correctly or saw the example.

Sorry, I'm assuming the example is a local change as to what you are trying to accomplish in Lr and I was answering...

dazz wrote: ↑ So the question stays, how do I edit a red dress so that it would have the deep reds and I can still see the fabric detail?

Now, I see what you mean. Left is what you see in Lr, right is what you see online (or vice-versa).

Your colour profile is correct in your camera+Lr, your monitor is calibrated, and you're using sites that do not adulterate the image?

What I see in Lr, is what I see when I open the same image on my desktop, or my Macbook. And it's the same when I upload to say flickr or 500px.

What happens when you view the image locally on your desktop? Is the change evident? What site are you using? I would try to find the source or weakest link that is causing the change.

Idea! Check your Export Settings. I had a friend who was complaining it looked great in Lr but was less sharp on her desktop, she was outputting at 60%.

See that nothing is checked or changed by mistake and it's outputting exactly what you see within Lr.

AncasterRFD wrote: ↑Sorry, I'm assuming the example is a local change as to what you are trying to accomplish in Lr and I was answering...




Now, I see what you mean. Left is what you see in Lr, right is what you see online (or vice-versa).

Your colour profile is correct in your camera+Lr, your monitor is calibrated, and you're using sites that do not adulterate the image?

What I see in Lr, is what I see when I open the same image on my desktop, or my Macbook. And it's the same when I upload to say flickr or 500px.

What happens when you view the image locally on your desktop? Is the change evident? What site are you using? I would try to find the source or weakest link that is causing the change.

Sorry dude, you are still not getting the question at all. I understand you are not a photographer or know how to edit so I am hoping an experienced photographer with good knowledge of editing and colors can answer. Paging 2 people on this board.

I am not aware of your knowledge level or experience.
Besides CSA who I deeply respect, no one else has replied, so I'm not sure why you're responding like that to someone who has taken the time to offer something, even if I misunderstood, than I'm sorry if I did.
In no way was I responding in a tone other than amiably.

It's not my intention to offend you, and if I've done so in the past, I apologize.

dazz wrote: ↑Sorry dude, you are still not getting the question at all. I understand you are not a photographer or know how to edit so I am hoping an experienced photographer with good knowledge of editing and colors can answer. Paging 2 people on this board.

He's getting the question just fine. If the photo looks different in Lightroom than it does online, the problem is with your export settings. No reason to be a prick.

In your example posted, the image on the left has the saturation pushed too high.

I got your email. I out of Toronto for a wedding and don't have much time to go into the details.

Basically, the issue is pretty much the sRGB.

It also affects other colours, but as you said red suffers the most.

Now the answer to your question:
As you are editing reds, click Soft Proofing icon at the bottom left corner in the development module.
It will help you to preview how the image will look once it is converted to sRGB.

Go to Colour section (between Tone Curve and Split Toning) and click on the red colour there. Play with the saturation and luminance slider.
If you want a bit darker red, move the luminance slider to the left. Leave the hues alone.

Depending on the red, there may be some magenta in it too. Play with that too.

Contrast brings vibrancy so play with that slider too,perhaps with the selective brush tool to localize the changes.
Exposure adjustment may also help. Chances are your image is on the brighter side and you may want to adjust the exposure down a bit (make it darker)

Hope that helps.

AncasterRFD wrote: ↑I am not aware of your knowledge level or experience.
Besides CSA who I deeply respect, no one else has replied, so I'm not sure why you're responding like that to someone who has taken the time to offer something, even if I misunderstood, than I'm sorry if I did.
In no way was I responding in a tone other than amiably.

It's not my intention to offend you, and if I've done so in the past, I apologize.

lol. I just said your answer is wrong. Again, it seems you heard something different. there was no tone or attitude from my side. telling someone they didn't answer or understood the question correctly is nothing bad, you know.

SleepyMcGee wrote: ↑He's getting the question just fine. If the photo looks different in Lightroom than it does online, the problem is with your export settings. No reason to be a prick.

In your example posted, the image on the left has the saturation pushed too high.

very mature to resort to name calling because the answers I received were wrong. You must be proud!

demi2004 wrote: ↑I got your email. I out of Toronto for a wedding and don't have much time to go into the details.

Basically, the issue is pretty much the sRGB.

It also affects other colours, but as you said red suffers the most.

Now the answer to your question:
As you are editing reds, click Soft Proofing icon at the bottom left corner in the development module.
It will help you to preview how the image will look once it is converted to sRGB.

Go to Colour section (between Tone Curve and Split Toning) and click on the red colour there. Play with the saturation and luminance slider.
If you want a bit darker red, move the luminance slider to the left. Leave the hues alone.

Depending on the red, there may be some magenta in it too. Play with that too.

Contrast brings vibrancy so play with that slider too,perhaps with the selective brush tool to localize the changes.
Exposure adjustment may also help. Chances are your image is on the brighter side and you may want to adjust the exposure down a bit (make it darker)

Hope that helps.

Thanks D,
That's exactly what I asked and darkening the dress and playing with the luminance,saturation and contrast sliders did the trick in getting the deep red colors I wanted without ruining the texture.

Your first post implies you already played with sat/lum in the HSL box.
I only offered how to isolate it, and further affect red and detail outside of HSL which is important to keep skin tones intact.
As well, you can make adjustments in Tone Curve to affect detail.

Dmitri who I also admire and has given me tips in the past reiterated what I said about using the brush to localize it.
If you didn't already know about the relationship between sat/lum/contrast, you might want to take a Lr fundamentals course because it is really helpful to understand all the micro adjustments you can do beyond it.

Either that, or you'll figure it out on your own. Again, I'm not trying to be facetious.
I guess I gave you step 2, when you were looking for step 1. Sorry man.
Happy editing.

fwiw... I think the the response from the OP to Ancaster was insulting and the OP deserved a reprimand of some sort.

NewsyL wrote: ↑fwiw... I think the the response from the OP to Ancaster was insulting and the OP deserved a reprimand of some sort.

I agree. When I read this thread, I felt Ancaster was doing his best to help out and OP's response was, at the very least, ignorant and dismissive.