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southwestform
Inspiring
October 20, 2017
Answered

Basic ICC questions

  • October 20, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1185 views

I want to download the ICC profiles for the place I am going to print to. My display has been calibrated, I now just need to learn how to work with my ICC profile in Photoshop to get accurate prints.

1. After choosing Assign>Profile and choosing my profile, do I need to do anything else based on what I described above?

2. When wanting to view/proof my file based on the ICC profile, is View > Proof Setup > Custom the way to go?

3. When saving my file as a .PSD or a .TIFF or a .JPG, does the ICC color profile get embedded into the file? OR is the ICC profile just for viewing on my computer to simulate how it will look with the paper and printing process that will be used?

Thanks!!!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    Just curious why you mentioned to flatten it? Is this just to make sure nothing gets accidentally changed with the image?


    When you send the exported copy on for printing, you want to minimise the potential for unexpected changes. For example a layered tiff may be opened in an application other than Photoshop. Flattening into one layer is one more step that you can keep in your control.

    It also keeps file sizes down if you are sending online. Finally if you are sending in a format that does not support layers you have no choice.

    Dave

    2 replies

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 20, 2017

    southwestform  wrote

    My display has been calibrated, I now just need to learn how to work with my ICC profile

    Let's just be clear here. When you say "my profile", you do mean the print profile you'll get from your printer, right? You don't mean the monitor profile made by your calibrator?

    Because the monitor profile isn't something you need to "work with" at all - it's been set up as system default by your calibrator, and Photoshop finds it there and uses it without any user intervention. You never, ever use the monitor profile at document level. Those two are entirely separate things.

    I need to emphasize this because a lot of people misunderstand it. They get a calibrator and then think they have to do something with the profile, which is not the case.

    S
    southwestformAuthor
    Inspiring
    October 20, 2017

    I did mean the print profile.

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 20, 2017

    OK. In that case you can either convert to the print profile (not assign!), which they then print without color management - or you can proof to the print profile and leave it in the original standard RGB space. The latter is probably safer and more common, but ask them what they want.

    Proof is set up in View > Proof Setup > Custom. Toggle on/off with ctrl+Y. What you're looking for is gamut clipping, and if there's an unacceptable amount you can try to compensate. There are many ways to do gamut remapping and that's a large subject in itself.

    Proofing is mainly useful if you have a wide gamut monitor. With a standard monitor everything you see on screen is already clipped to sRGB(ish) and it won't tell you much. Lots of printable color will be outside the monitor color space.

    Gamut clipping shows as dense areas where texture and detail is mostly wiped out. The loss in saturation is usually much less important than this featureless crush, which has a very unattractive look.

    mglush
    Community Expert
    mglushCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 20, 2017

    Hi!

    I found a great primer on ICC profiles -- this might help answer your questions and walk your through the process.

    Introduction to Icc Profiles

    ICC profiles give you a way to "view" your image in the profile that you've selected, so that what you see on the monitor (since you calibrated it) is how the output device interprets the colors. You are looking at your image through the eyes of the ICC profile you chose.

    You can choose a profile when you open a document; you can convert an existing document to an ICC profile after you've opened it by choosing Edit>Convert to Profile and choosing the one you want (I will often use this to convert my print images from RGB to CMYK because I have more control over them); and yes when you save your document -- towards the bottom of the Save dialog, you will find that your profile will be embedded as you save.

    Take a look at the link above -- I think it will be a really good reference for you. And, if you have any other questions, let us know.

    Michelle

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