Color Space Renames Image Files

[Jerry Raia]

Does anyone know why if you use Adobe RGB the first letter of the file name becomes a "_"? So IMG001.jpg becomes _MG001.jpg Does software need to see this and if so isn't it already in EXIF data?

[cameron]

Does anyone know why if you use Adobe RGB the first letter of the file name becomes a "_"? So IMG001.jpg becomes _MG001.jpg Does software need to see this and if so isn't it already in EXIF data?

Jerry,

As far as I know this is just a Canon convention. The interesting part about it is that the camera does this even if you shoot in RAW, when the color space you chose in camera makes absolutely no difference.

[Jerry Raia]

I just found the fact that it will do this renaming in the manual in a tiny footnote. It doesn't say why though. Strange.

[cameron]

I just found the fact that it will do this renaming in the manual in a tiny footnote. It doesn't say why though. Strange.

If you are shooting JPGs, it's actually pretty useful to know. When you send images to print - most online printers are looking for sRGB as the color space (plus displaying on the web, with Adobe RGB looking very unsaturated in any non-color managed application). If your img has the _, then you know that it was shot in Adobe RGB and you need to convert it.

[Jerry Raia]

That is a good point. I changed my file names on the 1D to account for this now. They will either start with "SJR" or "_JR".

[Jason Dunn]

I'm curious, why are you using Adobe RGB? Here's an interesting article on the subject:

http://www.smugmug.com/help/srgb-versus-adobe-rgb-1998

I haven't heard any good points for Adobe RGB - do many people use it?

[Jerry Raia]

Nice explanation, thanks. The only reason is just because I'm new at this and experimenting and trying to learn all this stuff. Most of what I am reading about this issue and seen for myself points to the same thing; I personally have no use for Adobe RGB. I do however, have an obsession to know what every stinking thing in those menus on the cameras and in Adobe do! :lol:

[cameron]

Smugmug is trying to justify why they print from the sRGB color space. While they are correct that a larger gamut color space does result in less "precision" - I personally would rather have that larger gamut (try shooting something that's a vivid yellow in sRGB). You always have to be conscious of converting your files to sRGB for viewing on the web (or for most on-line printers) - but the larger gamut gives me more room to work while editing.

Personally I use ProPhoto RGB.

If you are shooting RAW, it's really a moot point - as the raw data from the sensor really doesn't have a color space - it's the raw converter that then assigns the space.