Color Management | Free Download Epson® icc Profiles | Canon® icc Profiles

What is an ICC profile?

ICC profiles contain data that determines various color attributes from a device, in order to achieve accurate color reproduction. The data held in an ICC profile defines a mapping between the source (camera, image file) and the destination (monitor, printer). Every device that outputs color or displays color is capable of having its own profile. Since every device displays/outputs color differently, a standard was set by the International Color Consortium (ICC). With this standard, devices that are originally far from accurate can be profiled to match. And since each profile is specific to its device, it can be manually adjusted if necessary.

While there are many profiling devices out there, the industry standard is the Eye-One Pro. The Eye-One Pro is a spectrophotometer made by X-Rite, the leading provider in color management solutions. With the Eye-One Pro you can profile computer monitors, projectors, cameras and inkjet printers. The Eye-One Pro can be used with different devices to make profiling easier to manage. With the scanning ruler found in the i1 Photo Pro package, you can take all of your profiling equipment with you and use anywhere. In house, the i1 Pro can be connected to the i1iO automated scanning table for faster, more consistent scanning. And to profile even faster and with little effort, the i1iSis has a spectrophotometer built in and even calibrates itself.

Although many printers use CMYK as there ink set (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black), they can accept and print RGB images. ICC profiles will produce the best results when the printer being profiled is in its best condition. All nozzles should be firing in a nozzle check; otherwise the lack of nozzles can affect the output profile. Also, setting the right media type is important as this determines the ink capacity a particular media will hold (explained below). If too much ink is printed on the media, the target swatches needed for profiling can become mottled and will make scanning accurately difficult.

Breathing Color ICC profiles

The links below will lead you to each product’s main page.  From there, click on the Color Management Tab and you will find a list with printer types below. Find your printer and ink type (matte black or photo black for Epson users) and you will find the downloadable link there.

Canvas

• Crystalline - NEW! 21 mil, 440gsm gloss/satin poly-cotton inkjet canvas. OBA-free.
• Lyve - 19 mil matte poly-cotton inkjet canvas. Archival Certified, OBA-free.
• Chromata White - 19 mil matte poly-cotton inkjet canvas. Archival Certified, OBA-free
• 800M - 21 mil, 450gsm matte poly-cotton decor inkjet canvas. Low cost alternative

Fine Art Paper

• Elegance Velvet – 310gsm, Bright White and water resistant fine art paper. 100% cotton fiber.
• Optica One – 300gsm, Bright White matte fine art paper. Ideal for high res photography.
• 600MT – 300 gsm, Bright White cotton rag textured matte paper. 50% cotton, 50% alpha cellulose.

Photo Paper

• Vibrance Rag – 325gsm, 100% cotton paper/baryta board. Astounding color gamut, dmax and resolution.
• Vibrance Luster – 10mil, 255gsm photo luster paper. Cockle-free RC base.
• Vibrance Gloss – 10mil, heavyweight glossy photo paper. Cockle-free RC base.
• Vibrance Photo Matte – 230gsm, Bright White, smooth matte paper with NO mottling.

 

USE THE FOLLOWING PROMO CODE WITH YOUR FIRST ORDER TO RECEIVE 20% OFF!

 

Compatible Printers for Breathing Color ICC profiles

Epson Stylus Pro Series Printers - Epson 4000, Epson 4800, Epson 4880, Epson 4900, Epson 7500, Epson 7600, Epson 7800, Epson 7880, Epson 7890, Epson 7900, Epson 9600, Epson 9800, Epson 9880, Epson 9890, Epson 9900, Epson 10000, Epson 10600, Epson 11880, Epson 9880, Epson 7880. Using Epson Archival Ink, Epson Ultrachrome Ink (Photo Black and Matte Black), Epson K3 Ink, and Epson Dye Ink.

Roland Hi-Fi Jet Pro & Pro II Series Printers, SolJet Pro II Series (Roland Archival Ink, Eco-Sol Ink, and Max Ink).

Hewlett-Packard DesignJet Z6100, DesignJet Z3100, DesignJet Z6200

Canon Canon iPF9000, Canon iPF8300, Canon iPF8000, Canon iPF6300, Canon ipf5000, Canon ipf6400, Canon ipf6100, Canon ipf5100, Canon w6400, Canon i990.

Mimaki JV-4, JV2 130, JV22-160.

Mutoh RJ46, RJ50, RJ62, RJ64, Falcon II, Toucan LT.

Color Management:  From Beginner to Expert 

1. BEGINNER

These settings are recommended for non-advanced printmakers who are not familiar with the more technical option of using ICC profiles. If you want to have great results without having to install or use ICC profiles, these settings will help get you there. The settings outlined in the video below are aimed at pleasing color with high saturation. 

2. INTERMEDIATE

These settings are recommended for the advanced printmaker who is familiar with ICC profiles and has used ICC profiles in the past. Below you will find a video that outlines the process of downloading and installing our ICC profiles. Also included is the step-by-step print settings when using our ICC profiles and an Epson Stylus Pro Printer. These videos are under the sections titled “How do I download and install ICC profiles?” and “What are the appropriate settings for printing with ICC profiles?” For information on settings for HP and Canon, give us a call today!

3. EXPERT

In this example we have outlined the step-by-step process for accurately profiling media on an Epson Stylus Pro 9900. This process shows how to select the right media type for maximum density and ink saturation. It also shows the correct way to print targets for a custom ICC profile, and will discuss the best devices to use for profiling. When finished, you will also see what print settings are needed when using your new custom built ICC profile. Read on for a brief description on the differences between a custom ICC and a generic ICC profile, how to manage embedded profiles, and so much more! Although the Epson 9900 is used for this section, the general rules discussed can apply to many large format inkjet printers.

What is the best way to test the accuracy of an ICC profile?

When testing a new ICC profile, you’ll want a good test image to use. A file that shows photos with many colors, flesh tones, black and white images, gradients, and solid black will show you everything you need to see. The photo below is of a test file we use internally. The left side of this test image file was created by Onyx Graphics. Onyx is a leading RIP software provider that specializes in printing to multiple printers, consistent color management, and vibrant color. Their sample file is a great example of a test image that shows a wide variation of color and tones.

 

When viewing this printed image, it is important to look for the following:

1. Natural appearance of flesh tones
2. Shadow detail in woman’s hair
3. Smooth transition in density of blue sky
4. True black & white (watch for duotone or sepia-tone output)
5. Look for true color and detail in the fruit
6. Wine labels should be crisp and sharp in detail
7. Knife should have lots of clarity
8. Color swatches should not have any visible mottling, ink pooling, framing, lack of density, and any spotty color
9. Check each color bar for a smooth gradient, and no harsh jumps in color values
10. Check the overall print for excess ink, bleeding, and of course color

On the right hand side, the solid black can be used to measure black ink density (dmax). You can use a densitometer for this measurement, or if you have a spectrophotometer (like the Eye-One Pro) you can use the included software to measure black ink densities. You can also soft proof the test file on your monitor to check color accuracy (be sure to calibrate your monitor prior to doing this test).

How do I download and install ICC profiles?

To download and install our profiles, please watch the step-by-step video below. This video shows the process for PC and Mac users, and will guide you through the location of our profiles and the location they need to be installed into.

What are the appropriate settings for printing with ICC profiles?

Now that you have downloaded our ICC profiles and installed them to your drive, you are ready to print. If you have an Epson Stylus Pro printer, please follow the video below to see the detailed settings to use within the Epson driver. The layout between PC and Mac are different, so we’ve outlined the process for each in this video. It is important to note that the example in the video is for our Lyve canvas, so certain products will have a different setting in terms of media type.

Generic ICC Profiles vs. Custom ICC Profiles

While most generic ICC profiles generated on another printer will work, in some cases this will not produce 100% accurate results. This is because every printer tends to “drift” from its factory standard overtime. Most new printers out on the market today allow you to recalibrate/re-linearize your printer to bring it back to “home”, but older models don’t have this capability.

Custom ICC profiles are specific to your printer, ink and media you are printing on. This means that if your printer drifts over time, you can re-profile and get back the accurate color and consistency you originally started with. This also means that if you have multiple printers, you can profile each to get a match between them. The example shows the difference of using a generic ICC profile vs a custom ICC profile specifically built on the printer being used. When looking at one on its own, the generic profile may seem acceptable. But upon closer examination, you will find that there is a slight magenta cast to the overall image. This contributes to the cutting board having a slightly unnatural look and causes the fruit to appear darker and over saturated than they really are, most notably the apple.

With a custom ICC profile (and a calibrated monitor), the image on the right accurately represents the fruit as they exist, as well as the cutting board appearing it’s natural wood finish. At the end of the day, it is best to invest in a color management device that will enable you to manage your own color and output professionally. The Eye-One Pro (X-Rite) has always been an industry standard, but the ColorMunki has proven to be an effective, low cost alternative to the Eye-One Pro. The ColorMunki is comparable to the Eye-One in terms of color accuracy, but is even easier to use (especially for novices to color management).  Ultimately, if color output and consistency is important to you and your business, a color management device like the ColorMunki will insure that you get just that. And since that will also cut down on the proofing process, you will cut down on waste/reprints and lower your overall cost. Not a bad investment.

 

How to manage embedded profiles

To access your color settings in Photoshop, click on the Edit pull-down menu and locate Color Settings near the bottom of the list. Your working space specifies the color profile that is to be used for either a CMYK or RGB workflow. The profiles you choose as your working space can be whatever you specify as there is no right or wrong setting.

The most commonly used working spaces are Adobe RGB (1998) and U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2. These are selected due to their relatively wide color gamut and consistency with the vast majority of reproducible colors. Looking in the bottom portion of the window you will find the Color Management Policies. These policies determine what action Photoshop takes when you have files that have a different embedded profile to what your working space is set at. Normally, these settings are set to “Preserve Embedded Profiles” but changing that to “Convert to Working” will keep all of your files in the same color space. This is important if color consistency is what you strive for.

Last but not least, Profile Mismatches and Missing Profiles should be “checked” to activate “Ask When Opening”. This way, any time you open a new file you will be notified if the file you are opening is embedded with a profile other than your working space. It is always best to convert to your working space.

  

Using the correct black ink to maximize dmax

Now that you have your color settings complete, let’s go through the process of creating a custom ICC Profile. These settings are universal regardless of the device being used for profiling. In the following example, we will be profiling on the Epson Stylus Pro 9900. The 9900 is equipped with Matte Black and Photo Black, and it is very important to use the black that best suites the media you are printing on.

Photo Black is used for any photo papers that have a gloss, satin, or luster sheen. But Photo Black is also used on glossy canvases, such as our Crystalline Gloss or Satin Canvas. Photo Black has sheen to it so printing with it on the media types mentioned will produce blacks that match the sheen of the paper. If you were to use Matte Black on a photo paper, you will experience gloss differential in the blacks or any colors that are combined with black. Gloss differential (not to be confused with bronzing) mainly happens with black since the black inks in the 9900 have very different properties.

Using Photo Black on a matte paper will result in the image looking somewhat washed out and less vibrant. On the flip side, using Matte Black on a photo paper will have a noticeably dull look in any dark areas due to the Matte Black’s dense properties and lack of sheen. Please see the images below to have a better understanding of what this looks like. Switching Photo Black to Matte Black uses about 1.13ml of ink and Matte Black to Photo Black uses about 3.34ml of ink. This is because the black inks share a line in the ink delivery system so the ink currently in the line is purged to allow the opposite ink to be used (On the 9900). The entire process takes about 2-3 minutes.

 

Printing targets and creating your own ICC Profile

First, locate the target file your profiling device (spectrophotometer) requires to build a profile. The Eye-One Pro or ColorMunki Photo (X-Rite products) produces very accurate results in minimal time. Open the target file, and do not embed any profile or working space. Target files are untagged RGB files so applying a profile to it may affect the end results of the profile.

With the target file open, go to File>Print. On the first print dialog box you have Color Handling options on the right. Prior to Adobe CS5, you have 3 options: Printer Manages Color, Photoshop Manages Color, or No Color Management. When printing targets for a custom ICC profile, it is vital that this be set to No Color Management (Printer Manages Colors in Adobe CS5). This is because the profile you are building will manage the color. If you print targets with an ICC Profile (or any other type of color management) you will drastically affect the end result of the profile. Having set the Color Handling to No Color Management, you can now proceed to Page Setup (Printer Settings in Adobe CS5).

Choosing the right media type to maximize your ink capacity

The Epson 9900 has lots of standard media types that are used for printing. Many people wonder what the correct setting is for a particular media. The short answer is to match the media type in the driver with what most closely resembles the media you are printing on. But sometimes you can achieve better results through experimentation.

The media types in the Epson driver have set ink loads that will differ depending on what you are printing on. Canvas, for example, can absorb more ink than a typical photo paper so it’s important to use a media type that outputs more ink. If you do not utilize the maximum capability of your media, the prints can appear washed out and dull. However, outputting more ink than the media can handle will result in over-saturation, mottling, pooling, ink bleeding, and lack of sharpness in the overall print.

To find the right balance, it’s best to do a small test print of solid colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) and visually check if any of these instances occur. For Lyve Canvas, Epson’s Watercolor paper setting produces just the right amount of ink to push the output and color gamut to its threshold without any problems. Depending on your print room temperature/humidity, your results may vary slightly so it is best to test multiple media types before determining which is best to use. As long as you do not see any of the artifacts described above and the color looks vibrant, you are ready to proceed.

How much resolution do you need?

The Print Quality is best determined by what media you are printing on. Under Quality Options, you will find various resolution/print modes. 1440x720dpi offers great resolution without sacrificing speed when printing on canvas. 2880x1440dpi may be considered “over-the-top” since you will not notice additional resolution sharpness on canvas due to its texture and porous look. 2880 will also slow your printer down considerably and use slightly more ink overall. However, if you are running high res photos 2880 will give you a noticeably sharper results in the shadows and detailed areas of your image.

Of course, these resolution settings are moot if the file you are printing is relatively low in pixel depth (also referred to as low resolution). High Speed mode should be left on as this utilizes bi-directional printing (print head fires ink in both directions of travel). If you are not sure how a particular image will print, click on the View menu and select Actual Pixels in Photoshop. This will accurately show the resolution of your image at 100% (the size the image will be printed at). While canvas tends to be more forgiving in terms of output (in regards to a low resolution file), a typical photo paper will not be as forgiving.

 

Below Print Quality, you have a Color Mode. When set to Automatic, the Epson driver will apply a color mode to the print. Usually this will raise the overall saturation of the image being printed, especially in the Reds and Blues. This should not be applied to building a profile due to color shifts that may occur. These settings can be experimented with during the printing process, but for profiling they should be turned off.

To do so, change the Color Mode from Automatic to Custom. When Custom has been selected, click on the pull-down menu below and select Off (No Color Adjustment). This will leave the target file unaffected. Now that all of these settings have been made, you are ready to print out the targets for profiling.

Using Your New ICC Profile

When the targets have been printed, allow them to dry for 15-20 minutes prior to scanning with your spectrophotometer. After scanning and building your new ICC Profile, you are now ready to use it for your next print. Please watch the video below to see the correct print settings when using an ICC Profile you’ve created.

Mac Snow Leopard Users

Many users have run into a profiling problem when upgrading their Mac’s to OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard). Apple computer’s API (Application Programming Interface) for color management is ColorSync. This application not only holds all of your monitor ICC profiles, generic printer ICC profiles, and custom ICC profiles; it controls how those profiles are used and output to the various devices they are for.

Unfortunately, upon upgrading Snow Leopard from your existing version of OSX, a ColorSync “bug” is introduced to the system. While some of your current profiles will be unaffected, you may come across certain profiles you have successfully used in the past to now have a noticeable color shift. This is most common in the white areas of the print. They tend to print as a light gray cast, and can vary depending on the white point in the image file. One solution to this is to have your profile calculated using version 2 ICC specification. This is an older calculation that will not be affected by the ColorSync bug in OS 10.6.

 

If you are certain that you have a version 2 ICC profile, then you will need to have a new ICC profile created. Whether you have your own device, or are printing targets to send to us for profile creation, you’ll want to follow the steps below:

Open the profile targets in Photoshop

Edit > Assign Profile > Adobe RGB. Click OK

File > Print

Set Color Handling = Photoshop Manages Colors

Set Printer Profile = Adobe RGB

Set Rendering Intent = Perceptual

Uncheck Black Point Compensation

*You do not have to pick Adobe RGB as the profile. You can use whichever profile you prefer, as long as the embedded profile (step 2 above, which assigns an embedded profile) matches the printer profile.

This seems counterintuitive, but it works because you are matching the embedded ICC profile of the targets with the printer profile. In other words, there will be no color shift when the targets get printed. Beyond that, the rest of the driver settings should remain the same. This will allow the targets to be printed the same way they are when you print using “No Color Management”. When printing your image with the new profile you’ve created, just use the profile under the Printer Profile setting in the driver. It does not need to be embedded in the Photoshop dialog prior to printing.

Additional Education on Color Management

To learn about the basics of color, ideal viewing conditions, calibrating your computer monitors, or building a profile for your camera, take a look at the informative videos below:

Color Basics

Ideal Viewing Conditions for Color Management

Match My Display to My Printer-Part 1

Match My Display to My Printer-Part 2

Seth Resnick and X-Rite ColorChecker Passport