LR3/CS4 Workflow Problem (Extreme Contrast Added)

[fire-eyes]

Hello,

I have been using the following workflow for a very long time without issue. Starting today, it results in images that LR3 sees as having extremely high contrast compared to what any other app sees in the exact same image. I use LR3 to add a watermark, so this is breaking my workflow. I'm not really looking for minor workflow optimizations, I'm just looking to figure out what is causing this and put it to a stop.

My workflow:

1- Edit raws in lightroom
2- Export as uncompressed .tif, open in photoshop CS4
3- Use Nik Sharpener Pro (Raw presharpener then normal sharpener)
4- Delete all layers except the final sharpened layer
5- Save as a second uncompressed .tif
6- Export from LR3 with a watermark to a compressed .tif, replacing the first .tif created above

What's happening is that after step 5, LR3 displays the new image as if it had an extreme contast bump. Displaying this very same image in any other application, the .tif file looks as expected.

Here's an example. The one on the left is as expected. The one on the right is the new .tif file. Sorry, I haven't yet figured out how to get inline images to work yet:

ss2

Going ahead anyway with step six results in a watermarked image with the extreme contrast, thus wrecking my workflow and putting everything to a complete stop.

So, what's going on here? I have been using this workflow for ages. I didn't upgrade any software. I haven't changed a thing. Same camera settings, everything. I have poked around both PS and LR settings for hours without a clue in sight.

Thank you for reading this long post.

[OsmosisStudios]

Why are you re-exporting back to LR3 to add a watermark and re-save? You can just as easily do it in Photoshop

[jdepould]

Does it do the same when you use .psd instead of .tif?

[fire-eyes]

Originally Posted by jdepould

Does it do the same when you use .psd instead of .tif?

I tried first doing so in just step 5, with the same unwanted result. I then tried the same with step 2 and 5 to .psd. and also got the unwanted result.

So whatever is happening it's in the re-save. I'm guessing I tripped over a key combination and unwittingly changed something, but I have no idea what that might be.

Any further ideas?

[fire-eyes]

After some thought, I'm realizing that my workflow is fairly silly. Perhaps I should rebuild it.

Keeping in mind that for some strange reason, Edit in Photoshop in LR3 (as well as the ctl-E shortcut) does not apply lens corrections and thus we need to avoid it (try it, then use the export menu and compare, I was miffed!), let me state my goals.

1) Perform my raw edits
2) Bring these edits (including lens corrections -- Does not work in certain situations as per above) into PS CS4
3) Apply Nik Sharpening
4) Get the watermark applied (Preferably in LR3 but if PS CS4 can do it as easily, let's try it)
5) Save the final result as .tif or .psd or whatever works best

All without the strange hyperboost in contrast of course.

[fire-eyes]

Curiously when saving from PS CS4, and unchecking the ICC Profile: sRGB-(blah blah) box, things work out. But only when it's to .psd. When it's to .tif, that doesn't help the situation.

Pretty goofy stuff.

[jdepould]

The color profile makes total sense. It sounds like the label is getting switched over without actually converting the image. Use Adobe RGB beginning to end, then convert to sRGB on final export (when you go to upload). See if that works.

[fire-eyes]

Originally Posted by jdepould

The color profile makes total sense. It sounds like the label is getting switched over without actually converting the image. Use Adobe RGB beginning to end, then convert to sRGB on final export (when you go to upload). See if that works.

Okay. Everything from the start (Camera) is using Adobe RGB. I've got LR set up to send to PS in Adobe RGB. It all works out until the very end when I save to a second (any format) file solely to have lightroom add the watermark. At that point (before watermark), I'm seeing the effect.

When saving to that file, there is a check box to use the Adobe RGB profile. Leaving that checked, I still get the effect. Unchecking it, I get the result I want.

I once felt like I knew what I was doing, what am I missing here? Thank you for your time!

[OsmosisStudios]

Shoot in sRGB and let us know how that works.

[fire-eyes]

Phew. Got it all squared away. It turns out the Nik Sharpener has a lightroom version, so I tried that and it worked out fine. From there I just exported to a .psd, did the watermarking during that export, open it in PS, and save to .jpeg.

I wish I knew what caused this change in the first place, that part really bugs me...