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media kat
Known Participant
March 20, 2020
Answered

Working with ICC Profiles and proofing?

  • March 20, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 1496 views

I calibrated my display and copied some ICC profiles to my computer and want to use them in Photoshop to see how my photos will look when printed.

 

I finish working on my image and now want to simulate how it will look when viewing the ICC profile

 

1. Do I use Edit > Convert to Profile

OR

View > Proof Setup > Custom

 

Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer NB, colourmanagement

When a profile is embedded its there to show the recipient what colourspace the file is within. If its your working master (likely an RGB file) then an RGB profile will be embedded.

Whilst working you may (sensibly) choose to softproof 

View > Proof Setup > Custom

Choose the CMYK profile that you’ve been told reflects the printing condition.

Select "ink black" to reflect the tonal range of the print better

By all means try 'paper white' as well, but in may cases that may create such a big change that its not always used. 

 

What next?

A:

Save with RGB profie embedded with the knowledge that when its converted to CMYK somewhere down the line, it will withstand that conversion. No superstaurated skies etc.

or

B:

Convert to CMYK (as long as you are sure its THE CORRECT CMYK) and generally its best to embed the CMYK profile. 

However, way back when some print companies platesetter RIPs would choke on embedded profiles. So, some users preferred to not embed (ands still do).

BUT that means the file will not always be viewed accurately on screen. 

 

If I was asked to send CMYK with no embedded profile then I would add the ICC profile name to the filename.

 

I hope this helps

thanks

neil barstow, colourmanagement.net :: adobe forum volunteer

[please do not use the reply button on a message in the thread, only use the one at the top of the page, to maintain chronological order]

2 replies

NB, colourmanagement
Community Expert
NB, colourmanagementCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 21, 2020

When a profile is embedded its there to show the recipient what colourspace the file is within. If its your working master (likely an RGB file) then an RGB profile will be embedded.

Whilst working you may (sensibly) choose to softproof 

View > Proof Setup > Custom

Choose the CMYK profile that you’ve been told reflects the printing condition.

Select "ink black" to reflect the tonal range of the print better

By all means try 'paper white' as well, but in may cases that may create such a big change that its not always used. 

 

What next?

A:

Save with RGB profie embedded with the knowledge that when its converted to CMYK somewhere down the line, it will withstand that conversion. No superstaurated skies etc.

or

B:

Convert to CMYK (as long as you are sure its THE CORRECT CMYK) and generally its best to embed the CMYK profile. 

However, way back when some print companies platesetter RIPs would choke on embedded profiles. So, some users preferred to not embed (ands still do).

BUT that means the file will not always be viewed accurately on screen. 

 

If I was asked to send CMYK with no embedded profile then I would add the ICC profile name to the filename.

 

I hope this helps

thanks

neil barstow, colourmanagement.net :: adobe forum volunteer

[please do not use the reply button on a message in the thread, only use the one at the top of the page, to maintain chronological order]

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 20, 2020

    View > Proof Setup is the simple way and what you'd normally do.

     

    There's nothing wrong with converting, it will show you the same thing, but of course there's the risk of accidentally overwriting your original, so remember to revert. You can't just convert back.

      M
      media katAuthor
      Known Participant
      March 20, 2020

      After choosing view > Proof setup it and making some simple adjustments with Curves, is there anything else I should do?

      I am going to send the file for printing. Do you want to embed the ICC profile in the file? 

      Thanks

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 20, 2020

      You always need to ask the printer what they want, or check the published specs if there are any. There are many variables here and there's no stock answer.

       

      You should generally always embed the profile. The profile is the reference, without a profile the numbers are undefined.

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