ICC Profiles

Color Models and Color Theory are very interesting topics, but can be a bit complex for us to explain on this page. We have opted to do a bit of summarizing here, and provide you with some excellent links to industry organizations for more in-depth discussions and explanations.

As we have discussed in the CMYK versus RGB page, there are discrepancies between the two color models. When an RGB image is put into a CMYK production workflow, the RGB colors must be translated to the CMYK color space. In this translation, RGB colors that have no CMYK representation must be compressed and made to fit within the model. When this color compression happens, there are inevitably going to be color shifts (particularly in the intense Reds, and Greens).

A color management system is a set of tools that help to manage the transition from color space to color space. These tools work based on two primary steps:

1. The tools start by understanding the characteristics of every input device and output device in your workflow (called device profiling).
   
   
2. The next step is to build lookup values so that every output device displays color in the same way (output devices are printers, monitors, etc.).

ICC Profiles are the "glue"
The glue that holds the input and output systems together is via device profiles or "ICC Profiles". These profiles transfer the critical information that the output devices need for your intended color levels. These profiles are usually embedded into your image files so that they travel along and can get applied to every output device they are sent to.

Color managed workflows generally work best when they are controlled in a "closed-loop" system, and does not permit anyone to embed any profile they would like to. TSG's workflows are beginning to rely on ICC Color Profiles to make decisions on how to reproduce color.

The original image.	The resulting image is a better reflection of the intended color.

The International Color Consortium (ICC)
An organization that encourages the standardization and evolution of an open, vendor-neutral, cross-platform color management system architecture and components

Basic Color Theory for the Desktop
An overview of color theory: the nature of color and the factors that determine how we perceive it.

Color Smarts
A comprehensive resource for deeper information on color and color management systems.

Color Science glossary
A very technical resource for color science definitions.