[Leif]

I have a question about creating JPG images for viewing in a web browser. Unfortunately the question is a bit long winded, and tedious.

Firstly I should state that I have calibrated my monitor, using a Spyder, and configured the system (Windows XP) to use the generated profile. And I am using Photoshop CS2.

I create a JPG image as follows:

1) Open a TIF file, using the embedded profile which is usually Adobe RGB.
2) Process the image e.g. change levels.
3) Resize the image to 800 pixels wide.
4) Image => Mode => 8 bits.
5) Edit => Convert to profile => sRGB.
6) Save as => JPG (but do not save the profile).

The problem is that when I view the image in Firefox, or the Windows Image and Fax Viewer utility, it does not look like the original image in Photoshop. What's more, if I close and re-open the JPG image from Photoshop, it now looks like the image in Windows Viewer! The difference is subtle, but it is real. The same occurs if instead of steps 5) and 6) I use the "Save for web" option.

I can get round this by changing one step. In step 5), instead of converting to sRGB, I convert to the monitor profile:

5) Edit => Convert to profile => Windows Monitor Profile (the profile I generated).

It looks as if Firefox is using the monitor profile for the display. I always thought it used sRGB. Mmmm. Presumably then in the absence of a generated profile, Windows uses the default monitor profile, if any, and perhaps sRGB if one does not exist? Any profile experts here? Can anyone confirm what is going on?

Thanks, Leif