Each one represents a color gamut, which basically represents the range of colors that are supported. In order to have a clear understanding of ICC profiles, you have to be familiar with color profiles and spaces.Ĭolor profiles include CMYK, RGB, LAB, etc with more specific versions depending on the output. If these settings are not aligned across the different platforms, information gets lost in translation.Īn Intro to Color Profiles & Color Spaces These profiles act as languages of color and compression, interpreting the image as close as possible across devices from the camera to the monitor, the monitor to the printer, the printer to the paper. ICC profiles provide a common understanding between multiple editing programs such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One and others. The International Color Consortium was formed in 1993 by eight vendors in order to create an open, vendor-neutral color management system, which would function transparently across all operating systems and software packages. That’s where ICC profiles come into play.Īn ICC profile is a set of data that characterizes a color input or output device (or a color space) according to standards promulgated by the International Color Consortium (ICC). In order for the devices to communicate with each other properly - and reproduce the image without color distortion - they need to find common ground. So, just what are color profiles and why are they important?Įvery digital camera and printer has its own idea of what a specific color looks like. What may seem like an innocuous option in a drop-down menu might mean the difference between an accurate, high quality representation of your image and a lackluster, disappointing imitation. If you have ever taken a photograph or had one printed, you have dealt with color profiles … perhaps without even knowing it.

Photoshop Icc Profile Editor