Strange color issues in CS3 and Bridge.

[VibrantMindDance]

I'm pretty sure this is a new occurance, as I dont recall ever noticing it before, but yesterday I noticed that some of my older macro photos of flowers have really intense color issues where the color should be gradient. It's almost like its way over saturated or something. These are all jpeg photos, since i didnt have the raw option at the time.

Also, these pictures only appear this way when I view them in CS3 or bridge... but if I open them in Canons digital photo pro or zoombrowser, i find that they images look fine.

I like to think its not a monitor calibration thing because that would be tragic. And I've tried to calibrate this monitor with a huey but it doesnt seem to work. I feel that what I see on my monitor colorwise is a pretty accurate, if not exact rendition of what I view on my cameras LCD as well as what I actually saw... so im not feeling like its a calibration issue. Besides, ive taken thousands of photos since then of close up macros and such and they seem to be just fine.

Any thoughts perhaps? And also, speaking of monitors, im in the market for a new computer to dedicate strictly to my photography and interior design programs since my crappy laptop cant handle it, im looking for one that preferably has an incredible monitor, at an affordable price... or even if anyone just knows of a good monitor I can purchase seperately.

[gldiana]

What's affordable price to you? If you want a "photographic" monitor, be ready to spend a minimum of $3000, otherwise a great monitor is the 24" Gateway model that now is selling for $475 ($650 last year) and doubles as a great Full High Definition (1080p) screen, so awesome for Blue-Ray.
This monitor swivels 90 degrees and allows you to work on portrait shots. Also includes a USB 2.0 Hub. It would have been my second monitor if I had not had to shed 3 times that amount to my dentist
I've been drooling over it for a year.

As for the PS color issue, frankly I'm tired of it. I tried everything and I can't correct it, even Windows FAX/Pic viewer shows better colors.

[VibrantMindDance]

Yeah 3000 is more money then I have to my name right now. Ill check out the gateway, although my laptop is a gateway and it was pretty much the biggest waste of 1600 I could have ever imagined... then again I'm learning that laptops are not the most sufficient photographic tools... convenient in the field, but not for superduper processing... unless maybe its a fancy mac, but well... im not about to learn a new language and sell a kidney so I can buy an apple.

So im not the only one that suffers with crazy PS color issues? That makes me feel a bit better actually. I was starting to think my copy of CS3 was bummed. I wonder what my photos ACTUALLY look like to the world.......

[Bonish Photo]

I cant help you with the colors issue either, but one way to see what they really look like is to print them out.

I bought a monitor calibrator, and then printed some images after my monitor was calibrated. They looked nothing like they did on the monitor. What I ended up doing was adjusting my monitor to look more like the printed image, then I knew what to expect at least

[VibrantMindDance]

I dont intend to print my photos anytime soon. Cant afford a printer at the moment. Ill probably just send them someplace to get printed. Arent the photos supposed to look like they do on the camera when you take them? If so, i think i'm alright in that area.

Anybody know a good lap to get prints done?

[Bonish Photo]

This is what I use. Great service, and I've never been dissatisfied with their work

www.mpix.com Quick turnaround time too which is good

[gldiana]

then again I'm learning that laptops are not the most sufficient photographic tools... convenient in the field, but not for superduper processing... unless maybe its a fancy mac

Just to kill a myth, Apple laptops are not more powerful than Windows based ones, they use the same components. Plus, Apple tends to overcharge anywhere between $500 to $1000 for their brand, all else equal, so you're actually paying $500 or more for their Operating System.
Years ago I switched to laptop only but as I got more into photography I realized that I needed more power so I built a custom desktop. Today a powerful custom computer will cost you around $1000.

I do recommend MPIX for their quality and fast turnaround. See my other post "Another Great Experience" in the Digital Darkroom forum.

[bob_r]

Is it possible that some of your Photoshop color settings have been changed? I'm still using CS2 so my settings may be different than yours, but maybe you can verify them with someone using CS3. My settings can be changed through Edit -> Color Settings.

Not sure if this would help, but thought it might help to take a look.

Bob R