Input-only color profile. What in the heck is that?

[Kaiserphoto]

I'm putting a watermark on a photo and getting an error message: could not place because the current document has an input-only color profile. What in the heck is that?

[Barry Rudick · Accepted solution]

An input-only color profile usually implies that is was scanned or captured on a device that embedded an input profile. An input profile is a profile that describes the device in ColorSync language you might say.  Photoshop likes to use Working Space color profiles, such as sRGB or AdobeRGB, etc. I would suggest that the file be converted to a working space profile first, then it should be usable in your workflow.

To convert a file to a working space profile, open the file in question, go to the Edit menu and scroll down to "Convert to Profile", choose your favorite space from the top group of working spaces. I would suggest sRGB or AdobeRGB. Save the file and it will be embedded in the file.

Cheers,

Barry Rudick

Aker Imaging

[zerkins-wgaca]

The current version of CC will just prompt you if that is the case. I had to reinstall from the Creative Cloud app to clear the 'input only' warning.

[steves55162660]

Barry's answer worked for me.

[orthicon]

Thanks, Barry!

That's got it.

[hansmagnusnedreberg]

Just remember to uncheck the "Flatten Image to Preserve Appearance" check box.

#wheredidallmylayersandworkgo

[D Fosse]

Yes, but that's a real warning, it means exactly what it says. Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

[Nicola21902847hy34]

Thank you so much for this tip - I was pulling my hair out!

[_hasse_]

Thanks Barry,

After struggling with this problem for several days, that worked like a charm within seconds.

Cheers,

Hans

[John21601]

Nope...doesn't work. The file (both of them) are already AdobeRGB.

[boaza61185756]

You should let people here know not to do that on a layered photoshop file. This change flattens all layers into one. Thanks for the help!

[NB, colourmanagement]

boaza61185756 - there was a warning about flattening in the messages stream above - here it is:

hansmagnusnedreberg wrote:

Community Beginner , 

Nov 11, 2017

Copy link to clipboard

Just remember to uncheck the "Flatten Image to Preserve Appearance" check box.

#wheredidallmylayersandworkgo

DFossse also noted:

Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[NB, colourmanagement]

Just remember to uncheck the "Flatten Image to Preserve Appearance" check box.

#wheredidallmylayersandworkgo

DFossse also noted:

Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[NB, colourmanagement]

Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Lucas Flach]

Thanks, that worked for me. 🙂

[rgbtulsa]

Barry's solution worked for me as well!

[Tony Novelli]

Just got this for the first time in the latest cc update. I tried the above and it flattened all my layers. Instead I used Edit/assign profile and selected sRGB then saved. Preserved everything, though make sure you have a copy saved before attempting, just in case.

[NB, colourmanagement]

If you're interested you can learn a little about ICC profiles here

here is some reading on ICC profiles and how they work for you to provide accurate colour through the digital workflow: https://www.colourmanagement.net/advice/about-icc-colour-profiles/

I hope this helps

thanks
neil barstow, colourmanagement.net :: adobe forum volunteer
[please do not use the reply button on a message within the thread, only use the blue reply button at the top of the page, this maintains the original thread title and chronological order of posts]

[Stuart0D4C]

I have the CS6 version where the solution offered by Barry does not seem to work. I have owned this version for years, and this is the first time I've encountered this error message (although this version has not been supported by upgrades for a few years now).   I'm working with photos sent to my computer from my iPhone.  I converted the particular photo color profile within the Photoshop File "Save", and also changed my specific photo's regular file to RGB, independent of Photoshop.

Would anyone be able to offer another solution?

[NB, colourmanagement]

If the file truly has an INPUT ICC profile embedded, then, using the Photoshop's Edit / Convert to Profile and selecting, as destination for the conversion, a working colour space such as Adobe RGB or sRGB would solve that issue. 

BUT do note [for layered files] - when converting:

hansmagnusnedreberg wrote:

Community Beginner ,  

Nov 11, 2017

Copy link to clipboard

Just remember to uncheck the "Flatten Image to Preserve Appearance" check box.

#wheredidallmylayersandworkgo

and the implications of that - 

DFossse also noted:

Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

If you've done that - and still see the error message described earlier, then that seems like a bug.

You can report it as a bug here
https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/categories/photoshop_family_photoshop

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
[please only use the blue reply button at the top of the page, this maintains the original thread title and chronological order of posts]

[NB, colourmanagement]

Just remember to uncheck the "Flatten Image to Preserve Appearance" check box.

#wheredidallmylayersandworkgo

and the implications of that - 

DFossse also noted:

Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

[NB, colourmanagement]

Numerical adjustments are color space specific, and if you have adjustment layers, the file's appearance will change in the new color space. You will have to readjust them all.

[joefreshy]

Adobe should recognize that no-one wants an error message that doesn't provide a solution. 

Ok Adobe, so you know that i'm trying to place an image and you know the reason that you aren't able to do it, so then please do the thing you need to do so that i can do the thing i need to do, are you dumb?