It's been a long day, my eyes are half asleep but I've just got home and checked this thread so have taken another look. I've done some more side by comparisons and I seem to have noticed the problems, yes, plural. Which I want to double check again tomorrow with fresh eyes, but I'm pretty certain.
1. Images look different on either side of my screen. However I view the file, in PS/LR as PSD or in Windows Photo Viewer/Safari as JPG. Whichever file is on the right hand side of my screen, looks much more pale and washed out. Whichever file is on the left, looks more vibrant and colourful.
And now I've seen this, even this page looks a warmer white on the left and a much cooler white on the right - I assume it's equal on both sides for you guys and there's not a subtle gradient?!
I'm shocked I didn't notice this before, I must've been opening LR on the left every time and everything else on the right when doing my previous testing. I'm even more shocked at how much of a difference there is between the two sides.
I wonder how much of this is to do with a physical problem with my screen, or if it's my ambient lighting. I'll test it somewhere with more even lighting.
2. Rather than side by side I've just had each document full screen and switched between the windows.
- PSD in PS vs same PSD in LR - Slightly more contrast/darker in PS.
- PSD in PS converted to sRGB, but not saved vs original PSD in LR - Slightly more contrast/darker in LR.
- PSD in PS converted to sRGB, and saved vs same PSD in LR - Slightly more contrast/darker in LR.
- JPG exported from PS vs JPG exported for LR - very subtle increase in vibrance on PS copy
Still some digging to do but the cause of the biggest difference is definitely the change in left to right of my screen.
As you could be curious of my setup after the first point.
Three screens. Main editing one and two rubbish square screens. I've always found the ambience from these slightly affects to the look of images but only between everything equally so not a factor in this equation.
Creamy/yellowy wallpaper (not decorated since moving in, and new office almost built, will be painted grey)
Window to my right with creamy/yellowy curtain. West facing so has a dark purple rug hanging over to block out sun.
White built in cupboards behind.
One of those horrible yellowy energy saving bulbs in the light with a pale papery globe translucent globe type lampshade.
Yes, I know it's a bad combination for editing but will be moving out of it soon and never thought it would affect images this greatly from one side to the other. Assuming that is the case once I've tested the screen.
I'll report back. Thanks for all your help.