Red shift

Question

I'm sure my question has been asked before but I can't find a reference to it using the forum search function. I'd be grateful to know how I can avoid images returning to CS4 showing a red tint.
It happens, for example, when I make a screen grab of an image in CS4, save it as a tif, and then open the saved screengrab in CS4. The image looks markedly less-red tint - particularly noticeable in blues compared to the original image still open in CS4. Images made in Corel Painter also show this red shift when they are opened in CS4.
My color settings are sRGB, Dot Gain 20% and RGB: Convert to Working RGB.
I am using a NEC 2690 LCD display which is uncalibrated because it is a wide color gamut display and I am using it in its factory set sRGB mode (which cannot be hardware calibrated).
Thanks for any advice on this.

Answer 1

You are making a common error made with screen grabs that is not explained
very often. Here's a way to deal with it:
1) make the screen grab and save it to a file.
2) open the file in Photoshop.
3) assign (don't convert) your monitor display profile to the screen grab.
The red cast should go away at this point.
4) convert the screen grab to sRGB, or if the image is not destined for the
web, use your preferred working color space.
If the red cast remains, then rebuild your monitor profile, either by using
a calibration device (practical but relatively expensive at $200).
Another way to calibrate your monitor is by displaying a known good sRGB
image (look on drycreekphoto.com for examples) and adjusting your monitor
manually until the appearance matches your expectations. Then assign sRGB
as your system monitor profile.
If you use either of these procedures (device based or manual) to target
your monitor to sRGB, your screen grabs will be de facto sRGB. There will
be no difference between your screen grabs and the appearance of the image
in Photoshop, and no need to assign your monitor profile.