What is a color profile (sRGB vs Adobe RGB)?
A color profile (or color space) defines the range of colors that can be represented in an image. sRGB is the standard for web and screens — it covers a smaller range but is universally compatible. Adobe RGB covers a wider range, especially in greens and cyans — useful for print work.
sRGB — the universal standard
sRGB covers approximately 35% of visible colors. It was designed to match what computer monitors and web browsers can display.
Every screen, website, social media platform, and consumer printer expects sRGB. If you upload an Adobe RGB image to Instagram without converting, the colors can look dull and desaturated.
For web content, social media, YouTube, and general photography, sRGB is the correct choice. It ensures your colors look right on every device.
Adobe RGB — wider gamut for print
Adobe RGB covers approximately 50% of visible colors — significantly wider than sRGB, especially in cyan-green tones.
Professional print labs and high-end CMYK printing can reproduce colors outside the sRGB range. If you shoot for print, Adobe RGB preserves those extra colors for the printer to use.
You need a wide-gamut monitor calibrated for Adobe RGB to actually see the difference. On a standard monitor, Adobe RGB and sRGB look identical — or Adobe RGB may even look worse (desaturated) if the monitor does not support it.
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Which should you use?
Shoot RAW: RAW files capture the full sensor gamut regardless of your color space setting. You choose the color space when you export.
For web and social media: Use sRGB. Always. No exceptions.
For professional print: Use Adobe RGB in-camera or export from RAW in Adobe RGB. Discuss with your print lab.
For video: sRGB (Rec.709) for standard delivery. Rec.2020 for HDR content.
If you shoot RAW, the color space setting in your camera only affects the JPEG preview and histogram — not the RAW data itself. You have full flexibility to choose sRGB or Adobe RGB when you export from Lightroom or Capture One.