I use mode II in camera, work in Adobe RGB in Photoshop and then convert to sRGB for web.
Color management is a very complicated and technical issue for me. I dont know if above is right but it's what has worked for me so far. I really need like an idiot's guide to color management without all the science technical stuff.
I use IIIa as well. I use MPIX (sRGB based printers) for much of my stuff and it makes it easier because my whole workflow is in sRGB even though the color Gamut is smaller.
What Color mode do you use on your camera body:
Ia (sRGB)
IIIa (sRGB)
II (AdobeRGB)
You are really adjusting two things here, one being the color space (sRGB or AdobeRGB). Select this depending on your workflow. Basically you don't want AdobeRGB unless you are intending to process in Photoshop and then convert back to sRGB for printing or display.
The choice of color mode is aparently some weird Nikon-ism. A quick Google (tm) search uncovered this reference with a good description, The Story of Nikon Color Modes. The available modes depend on the camera model you have. In general, use I or Ia for photographs with people and III or IIIa for those of nature. If you use Nikon Capture and shoot raw, you can change the mode later. In particular, I like IIIa for landscapes but my D200 doesn't offer it in-body, but I can set it in Nikon Capture.
Ok so lemme see if I'm starting to understand this. I process ALL my shots in photoshop, so I should shoot in AdobeRGB, set photoshop's profile to AdobeRGB, and convert to sRGB right before I save-for-web?
Ok so lemme see if I'm starting to understand this. I process ALL my shots in photoshop, so I should shoot in AdobeRGB, set photoshop's profile to AdobeRGB, and convert to sRGB right before I save-for-web?
Ultimately you will need to decide what works best for you but yes, that is basically what I do except I use Bibble instead of Photoshop for my bulk RAW processing needs.
I was just Googling for something and ram accrossed this over on Rockwells site. Take it with a grain of salt, but I thought it was interesting.
"Mode Ia is default. It's Nikon's secret code for standard sRGB. sRGB is the world standard for digital images and the Internet."
"Mode II is secret code for Adobe RGB, which only hackers use. Adobe RGB gives dull colors when used by anyone other than an expert in color management who prints his own work. Even if you're an expert, if you send your work out for printing, 90% of the time the people doing the printing aren't experts and screw it up for you. Ignore desktop armchair hobbyists who bleat on about the broader color gamut of Adobe RGB. I've created and printed 100% chroma grads in Adobe RGB and sRGB and saw no difference when printed either on Inkjets or on the $250,000 Lightjet 5000 on Fuji Supergloss. Oh well! Using Adobe RGB is asking for trouble unless you really know what you're doing and have complete control over your process. If you have to ask, don't use Adobe RGB."
"Mode IIIa is secret code for a standard sRGB mode which gives bolder color. I use this all the time."
