Color cast on photos uploaded, can't seem to fix
Hi,
I've got a problem with when I upload photos to ebay (and also FB for that matter) they all have a strong pink color cast which ruins my listings.
I have used both my phone and a DSLR camera and both get the same results - so it's not my cameras.
I have checked in another browser; the cast is still there.
I have edited them in PS to make sure that they are sRGB, and also reduced size by 50%.
I have tried saving them as a PNG file instead of a jpg because, I read, FB can't modify colors on a PNG.
They still turn out pink.
I have done a lot of searches on this and can't find an answer.
Can anyone help, please?
thanks
nocafd
27 comments
nocafd
OP3 years agoThat's entirely possible. I have a number of add ons, particularly privacy ones. I notice often that some sites won't function. For example, if I go to Amazon, I can't view any items enlarged.
nocafd
OP3 years ago@shipscript
I tried something else - in PS I adjusted ball of wool photo - navy wool, white background, no pinks/reds, stripped the red a little, and it uploaded pink tinge, but not entire pink glaze. I then stripped the red almost entirely, and got a green/blue photo. Uploaded that, and it was true to the colour adjustment I'd made (hooray, finally!) - however not true to the photo (the photo was of course too cyan). I then tried the ebay autoadjust - and it shot a pink glaze over the whole thing, turning the ball of wool purple!
So ebay is defaulting to turning all my pics some kind of pink, whether they are red dominant or blue/green dominant. Incidentally the ball of wool pic this time I adjusted the white balance on my phone toward cooler tones, so it already started off cooler, before I put it in PS and stripped the red, yet ebay made it pink anyway.
Haven't given up yet, if other people's listings are fine and mine were ok 5 years ago, they should be again.
shipscript
·3 years ago@nocafd
Could you upload an original image to eBay from another browser?
eBay uses the processor within the browser to crop, rotate, and make image corrections, and also uses that processor to upload photos. There may be some issue with the browser.
nocafd
OP3 years ago@shipscript
Thank you, yes, I can try that. I have not uploaded the images in Chrome (I use Firefox, and it does seem to have bugs with some sites at times), but I have viewed the images uploaded in Firefox in Chrome as well in case it was a browser viewing issue, and the pink is the same in Chrome. However I will try actually uploading in Chrome.
nocafd
OP3 years ago@shipscript
It worked! All that faffing about for nothing! All I have to do is use Chrome to upload and they're fine!
Look! Genius, why didn't I think of that? Thanks soooo much, you've solved 2 weeks worth of stressing! 🙂
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/325645877750
shipscript
·3 years ago@nocafd
Those look great!
Now, my next question is whether some browser addon has contributed to the problem. If you feel like testing further, you might try turning off all the Firefox addons during a test upload. One of them may be interfering.
ms.rodriguez*
·3 years agoSometimes, items pick up the color from the stuff around them. Are the backgrounds pinkish? On shiny items, I will sometimes get a reddish reflection from the red sweater that I love to wear. Otherwise, try a different device. Try a tablet. My Ipad takes fantastic photos.
twelfth-note-records
·3 years ago"I have used both my phone and..."
I've encountered the same issue due to lighting variables, and this has worked for me using iphone:
Open the picture in your phone and choose edit. Then use the filters option (3 overlapping little circles) and slide to "vivid white". Pink hue should be gone. I'd guess there is a similar option for android, maybe someone with experience there can chime in.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
nocafd
OP3 years agoThanks. I have android. Also doesn't explain why photos on a DSLR and Prosumer also do the same thing when uploaded but if you fixed it, worth a shot. Photos are fine on phone, fine on computer, fine in PS. But I'll try anything! Also ebay must be doing it because when I uploaded a less-pink photo and used the autoadjust, it made it even more pink! I have messaged them but they are no help so far. I have tried washing out the red in PS and it helps a fraction, but not enough without losing the true color of the item.
nocafd
OP3 years agoHi helpful peeps,
so I took some more pics, of smaller items, in a well-lit room, sunny day, daylight. I save them for web in PS. They are still uploading to ebay with a pink cast. They look fine on the camera or phone, on the computer and in PS. I don't know what to try or what is wrong. I've tried my phone and two different cameras and 3 different rooms/lighting. They all upload to ebay or FB marketplace as pink.
If anyone can help that would be wonderful,
thanks
nocafd
wastingtime101
·3 years agoThe fact that they're showing a pink cast on both eBay and FBM make me wonder if this is a browser issue.
Have you viewed in a different browser? Have you viewed on your phone?
Can you post an item number of a live listing to see if we also see the pink cast?
nocafd
OP3 years agoThanks, I already checked browser. I usually use Firefox and I checked in Chrome and it does the same thing.
I was playing around just now and used the ebay photo edit (hadn't tried it before), hit 'autoadjust' and it made the photo in question so pink it looked like it fell into a strawberry milkshake!
I don't have a live listing with the pics that pink for obvious reasons, but I will make it live so can show you. There's other items in the listing because I'm still trying to get the photos right and can't be bothered creating new listings. The pencils are live and also too pink, but the corset is out of this world. The ball of wool was my latest attempt
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/325644733047?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=Mmzx_CIfQo-&sssrc=2566055&ssuid=Mmzx_CIfQo-&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/325644705490
wastingtime101
·3 years agoThank you for the visual. Very helpful. Before changing to sRGB in Photoshop, what format is your camera using? If it's aRGB that might be where this is stemming from.
Have you tried snapping a couple pics with your phone and uploading those to rule out a problem with your DSLR settings?
Check out this discussion. While it's not the same situation, you might find some helpful info.
https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/pink-tint-or-pink-hue-when-i-import-photos-in-lightroom/m-p/9987446
Any additional thoughts here @shipscript ? Images are fine on their camera and computer. They're sRGB format. When uploaded to both eBay and FBMarketplace they have a severe magenta tone seen in the listings above.
shipscript
·3 years ago@nocafd
Usually, when a photo is too pink, the white balance was set to counter greenish fluorescent lighting by adding pink to the picture. Automatic white balance can be fooled when different types of lighting are mixed in the same scene. Incandescent bulbs are typically yellow-orange, so the correction is to add blue. Fluorescent tends toward greenish and the correction is to add pink. Daylight is bluish, so yellow is added to correct the whites. A slight shift in the camera, when different light sources are present, can bias toward one color or the other.
If using LED lighting check the color rating.
I pulled two of the photos into Irfanview and increased the green channel, which turned the whites back to white, to what I assumed would be a normal color. I still had a pinkish beige wall behind the mannequin and a peachy table under the pencils.
When eBay imports an image, it strips all of the EXIF data associated with the photo. Thus, if the image was storing data that would auto-adjust the display mode, it would not carry through to eBay. This would be similar to photos taken sideways that show correctly in camera, editor, and browser, but are sideways on eBay after the EXIF corrections are stripped. Were the photos uploaded directly from phone and DSLR, or did they all go through Photoshop?
nocafd
OP3 years agoHi,
thanks for your help, very informative. I read somewhere else about the EXIF data but the post was quite convoluted, and it did say as you said, the ebay strips the EXIF data.
To answer your questions: initially the images were uploaded perhaps with cropping only, straight from my computer. I didn't change size or 'save for web'. This applies to images made with my android, DSLR and older Prosumer. I tried the Prosumer because I recall about 5 years ago using it to take pics for ebay and having no problems. I"m in the same house, same lighting, but this time around, 5 years later, the Prosumer too is now uploading pics that turn pink. So ebay must have changed something in those years because I've had times when there were no problems.
Once I saw the pink, I researched the problem and came across a post that said to make sure pics were sRGB and not aRGB. Unfortunately I can't seem to find such info or settings on my android, so I made sure in PS that they were all set to this. I also saved for web to reduce size. I would of course have adjusted levels, brightness/contrast and sharpness - you know, standard adjustments.
Changing the assigned profile in PS fixed ONE photo enough that it was ok - but the pic itself is of a coral-pink knit so it is predominantly red toned anyway; it just took it to coral pink instead of a pink pink.
However doing these changes did not help the other pics except maybe a fraction, they all have a pinkish tint or outright pink sunset glow on them.
Some of the phone photos were taken sideways and loaded up sideways (some of the corset pics).
So the problem occurs on untouched photos but also adjusted, reduced photos. It happens with photos on Android (most pics are taken with this for ease), the DSLR, and unfortunately the Prosumer which used to have no problems 5 years ago.
The walls you saw as 'pinkish beige' are actually a yellow/cream with greenish under-tone, no pink undertones.
Thank you for doing this and your explanation; I'm not sure what to try from here but thanks for your help, perhaps closer to solving it!
nocafd
stuff4divas
·3 years ago@nocafd I remember a few months ago, when i uploaded my photos from my camera onto my desktop and then onto my listing, the photos had that pink tone, but once the listing went LIVE, the pink was gone.
shipscript
·3 years ago@nocafd
Could we test one of your suspect JPG photos, perhaps the colored pencil set?
1) make a copy and ask Photoshop to strip the EXIF so that you can see if anything changes. Save that copy as JPG and upload to your listing.
2) open the original JPG again and convert to PNG format and upload to that listing.
krazzykats
·3 years agoI put my hanging mannequin on a door. I can easily adjust the garment around and behind it. And the door is off my dining area window for lighting.
nocafd
OP3 years agoThank you both, I'll try that.
mam98031
·3 years agoLet us know how it turns out for you please.
nocafd
OP3 years agoThanks again. I will let you know.
A few years ago I had exactly the same issue only in reverse: the pics had a green cast when uploaded to FB and ebay. I couldn't fix it then, either, and is why I stopped selling. I decided to try again, and now it's a pink cast! Same phone, same DSLR, same house.
From what I read, ebay and FB do change pictures and make own adjustments when uploaded which is why checking that the format is sRGB is what you are uploading.
I do where possible photograph on my dining room table where there is a lot of natural light streaming in as you suggested, but this is difficult when using a hanging mannequin to display clothes, and there isn't any bare wall in the dining area I can hang the mannequin from, unfortunately.
I will however photograph some smaller items on my dining room table with the good light and compare it to my pink tinged ones. Thanks again for responding,
nocafd
wastingtime101
·3 years agoIf you're struggling with natural light you can simulate it. Get "Daylight LED" bulbs @nocafd. Here in the US (FYI you're on the .com community, not the .com.au community) you can get standard size that will fit into pretty much any lamp or overhead. I assume you have the same in Australia.
nocafd
OP3 years agoThanks, yes, I knew I was on the US site, I already posted on Aus site and got no reply, but thanks for pointing it out. I do have have a full spectrum lamp and also one for photography which I only used once, but will try it. Now wondering whether my items are even worth all the hassle of setting it all up! But I'm grateful for the suggestions and help
wastingtime101
·3 years agoYou can research your items - how many currently listed, how many sold and at what price point. That will help you determine if the time involved is worth it.
If you plan to sell regularly you may want to move forward, but if you have just a few items from your closet that don't sell for a high enough price to make efforts and fees worth it, donation is always a good option.
I'd start with the stuff you can photograph in natural light and see how that goes. If it fixes your color issues, then you can make the decision about the larger items / items that need a mannequin.
mam98031
·3 years agoI agree. It is very good for something to be consistently wrong across several attempts with different cameras as it tell you so much. Can't be the camera as they would differ, so it has to be where you are setting up to take the pic.
I suggest you go to a well lit area, even if it is outside. If you have a white sheet, put it on something then put your stuff on it and take the pic.
I use my dining room table because it is full of windows / light.
Good Luck. Likely this is an easy problem to resolve. Just play with location a bit and wherever you can get CLEANER light.
slippinjimmy
·3 years ago@nocafd
If you get the same results with multiple cameras the problem probably lies with your lighting setup. Bad lighting and/or improper White Balance settings can cause this type of issue.