Why Photos look Different in Lightroom vs Photoshop (& How to Fix)
Discover why photos look different in Lightroom and Photoshop and learn how to fix the discrepancies with our comprehensive guide.
Lightroom | Photoshop | Software | By Judyth Satyn
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This guide will help you understand why photos look different in Lightroom and Photoshop.
I’ve been using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for many years, and I need to switch images between them several times a week.
Knowing why photos look different between one application and the other will help you to resolve color and formatting issues.
Let’s dive into the tutorial.
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Why Lightroom and Photoshop Images Look Different
You would imagine that the powerful Abode duo of Lightroom and Photoshop would work smoothly together; after all, they were created to work in tandem.
However, it often happens that a photo color-corrected in Adobe Lightroom will look different when later opened in Photoshop.
Its colors appear to have changed; colors now appear slightly off, or a subtle soft hue is now vibrantly rich.
The warm tones that the photo had in Lightroom might now look dull when opened in Photoshop.
There are a few reasons why this can happen, and knowing why will help you to overcome the issue.
Let’s review the basics so we know how to fix any inconsistencies when transferring images between Photoshop and Lightroom.
This information can also be used when printing to ensure that the results on screen are replicated in print.
Lightroom Develop Module vs Library Module
One reason images may look different in Photoshop to Lightroom is that you’re comparing Lightroom’s Library mode previews with Photoshop previews.
Images will look different in Lightroom depending on whether they are viewed as preview thumbnails in the Library module or opened in the Develop module.
Lightroom’s Library module preview displays a limited color palette, not the image’s entire color profile.
When the image is open in Lightroom’s Develop module, more colors are displayed.
This could be the reason colors and tones look different when viewing them in Lightroom to Photoshop.
Importing and Exporting Images
When working in Lightroom or Photoshop, ensure the image opens in the same color profile.
This will help prevent mismatching color tones.
Lightroom can export files as sRGB, ProPhoto RGB, or AbodeRGB.
Head to Lightroom’s main menu to export an image and select File > Export.
The Export One File dialogue box will open.
Click on the arrow beside File Settings to change the Color Space.
By default, Lightroom will export the image as sRGB.
When using Photoshop, you can change the settings so that images open with their embedded color profiles, or you can turn this option off.
To check which option you have set as a default, head to the main menu bar and select Edit > Color Settings.
The Color Settings dialogue window will open.
In the Color Management Policies box, you will find three lines for each color mode: RGB, CMYK, and Gray.
Click on the downward arrow, and you can view the three options.
If you select Off, Photoshop will no longer retain the color mode’s embedded profile.
Select Preserve Embedded Profiles. This will ensure that the image opens with the full spectrum of its color space.
Underneath the color modes, tick the box beside Profile Mismatches: Ask When Opening.
When this box is checked, Photoshop will alert you if there are mismatched color profiles when opening files.
ProPhoto RGB and Computer Calibration
Another reason why images can look differently is because your computer is not calibrated with the software program.
When you import an image into Lightroom, Lightroom uses the image’s embedded color profile.
If there is no embedded color profile attached, Lightroom will default to the sRGB color mode.
When working in Lightroom, it displays a preview of the image in ProPhoto RGB.
Computer monitors cannot display the full spectrum of colors within ProPhoto RGB.
Instead, the computer converts the colors using its monitor profile to colors it can display.
Monitors have a color profile; to display colors accurately, your computer must be calibrated with Lightroom.
Tiff Tagged Image File Format
Some Photographers recommend using the Tiff format when transferring files from Lightroom to Photoshop.
The reason for this is that the JPEG format uses destructive compression to save file information. This compression will result in some loss of color information.
Due to the loss of color information, an image saved as a JPEG and later opened in Photoshop could look different. (Read more about Tiff vs JPEG.)
A Tiff file provides greater compatibility than other files, although be warned, older versions of Photoshop (pre-Photoshop CS) do not support Tiff files.
If you prefer not to use a Tiff file, save the image as a ProPhoto RGB and open it in Photoshop in RGB mode for the most consistent results
Check the Color Mode
The next step in troubleshooting why an image looks different in Lightroom from Photoshop is to check the image’s color mode.
When I first started using Lightroom and Photoshop, I was unaware of the importance of color modes.
There are two color modes: CMYK and RGB.
RGB is the color mode used to mix colors that will be displayed on digital screens and CMYK is used for physical prints.
When editing images in Lightroom, previews are rendered in the ProPhoto RGB color space.
Most cameras are digital, and many images are never printed, making RGB the logical choice for a photo editing software program.
Photoshop is a more powerful editing software than Lightroom and allows editors to preview images in both CMYK and RGB color modes.
If Photoshop opens an image as CMYK instead of RGB, its colors will look different than when the image was opened as RGB in Lightroom.
To check the image’s color mode in Photoshop, go to the main menu bar and select Image > Mode.
There will be a tick beside the image’s color mode in the drop-down menu.
If you find that your image opened in CMYK, not RGB, this will explain why it looks different in Lightroom and Photoshop.
In the image above, the color mode was changed from RGB to CMYK in Photoshop. Comparing the two, you can see the color tones shifted slightly, resulting in less vivid colors.
Color changes won’t always be noticeable; however, if your project is color-sensitive, they are best avoided.
What are CMYK and RGB
A good grasp of color modes can help you avoid color issues when editing.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (key). Only these four colors are needed to create the full spectrum of colors for printing.
Working in the CMYK mode, colors will be combined using a method called subtractive mixing.
RGB stands for Red, Green, and Blue, the primary colors. The process of combining primary colors is known as additive.
Screen images tend to be brighter than their printed counterpart due to the screen’s light source.
This is because when you add layers of colored light, they combine completely differently than physical colors do.
When RGB colors, red, green, and blue, are blended at equal ratios, they create white.
In contrast, when CMYK colors are mixed in equal quantities, they create black.
Switching between the two modes on your computer screen will result in a subtle change of colors.
Convert Files from CMYK to RGB
If your Lightroom file has opened in Photoshop as a CMYK file, you can convert it back to RGB.
When the image is open in Photoshop, head to the main menu above the canvas workspace and select Image.
From the drop-down menu, select Mode > RGB.
Remember to change the color mode before you start editing, not when you have finished.
Convert Files from RGB to CMYK
You can also use the method above to convert imported RGB files to CMYK.
When changing RGB files to CMYK, colors will be altered.
So, if you plan to make this change, remember to do it before you begin editing.
Converting color modes in Lightroom is possible, but it’s a more complicated process than using Photoshop.
Why Does Lightroom Have No CMYK Mode?
You might wonder why Lightroom, a popular image editing software, doesn’t offer the CMYK color mode.
You wouldn’t be the first photographer to ponder this.
The reason is that Lightroom was never intended to be used as a one-step editing solution.
It’s assumed that photographers will use it in conjunction with Photoshop or Illustrator.
In Photoshop and Illustrator, an editor can convert an RGB image to CMYK if needed.
Plus, ProPhoto RGB is the largest color space, which means less color information is lost.
Color Modes for Physical Prints
Not only can an image look different when transferred between software programs, but the screen and the printed version can also look different.
When printing, you want the results on the screen to be replicated precisely in the physical print.
No photo editor wants to spend hours perfecting a unique look only for it to be in vain.
It’s incredibly frustrating when a print is returned from the print house only to find the vibrant colors are reduced to flat, dull tones.
When printing is your end goal, ensure you use the CMYK mode, not RGB.
CMYK is designed for printing, whereas RGB is intended to be displayed on screens.
Use CMYK mode to print the image for a photo album, postcard, poster, or leaflet.
Basically, anything that’s a hard copy – i.e. you can hold it in your hand – must be edited and saved as CMYK.
In contrast, use RGB when you plan to use the final result as a website design, social media post, digital graphic, or anything else you want to use online.
When editing photos, you want the results to be polished, professional, and consistent.
While it’s great if it looks perfect on one screen, it might not on another. Color profiles, color modes, and formatting are part of achieving the exact, concise look.
I hope you found this information useful. If you like this article, you might also enjoy – 5 Popular Lightroom Effects (& How to Create Them).
Happy Editing!
FAQ
Why don’t my Lightroom and Photoshop colors match?
There are two common reasons why Lightroom and Photoshop colors don’t match.
The first reason is because the computer monitor is not calibrated with the software programs.
The second is because the image file opens in a different color mode.
Do photographers prefer Lightroom or Photoshop?
Many photographers will use both Lightroom and Photoshop.
They will start the editing process in Lightroom and end it in Photoshop, as Lightroom excels in organizing and basic adjustments, while Photoshop is better for detailed retouching and complex edits.
Why do I see my photos change after they are imported to Lightroom?
Photos change when imported into Lightroom because they display more colors than the camera’s preview thumbnail.
The camera creates a small version of the RAW image file, making it compact and easy to view.
When opened in Lightroom, Lightroom will display all the image’s colors.
Does Lightroom change photo quality?
Lightroom enhances photo quality through adjustments like exposure, contrast, and sharpness. While you can manually increase the resolution if needed, it doesn’t automatically change during editing.
Judyth is an experienced studio photographer and glass artist. When she isn’t Photoshopping comedians into the bellies of sharks, you can find her cooking delicious treats for her guests.
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