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2. Basics of Image Processing

## 2.12 Color Management and ICC Color Profiles

An old problem when processing images is, that a print-out often looks completely different to the on-screen display. This is due to the fact, that printers usually are not able to print as many colors as a computer monitor. Therefore several hardware and software companies have founded the ICC (International Color Consortium). Goal of the ICC was and is to define a standardized way for a uniform appearance of images and graphics and different output devices (printer, screens, ...).

The solution of the ICC are color profiles. In the ideal case every device reading or displaying an image should have an associated color profile. The color profiles are describing how a certain device interprets a given color.

Usually you proceed like this:

- A color profile provided by the monitor manufacturer is assigned to the monitor.
- A color profile provided by the printer manufacturer is assigned to the printer.
- If an image is scanned the color profile of the scanner is assigned to this image.

If all 3 points are fulfilled, a scanned image printed or displayed on-screen looks like the original - at least in theory. In practice there are two problems:

- By using the brightness and contrast controls the monitor can be adjusted in a different way as expected by the color profile. Only test print-outs and accordingly made changes to the contrast and brightness of the monitor can solve this problem.
- As mentioned before printers usually are not able to print as many colors as a monitor. For example a very bright cyan is nearly never correctly reproduced. Using a color profile can‘t extend the capabilities of a given device. But it is possible to simulate a printer on-screen (see chapter 7.10.1.36). This way you get at least an impression what the printing will look like.

The support of color profiles in PhotoLine is described in chapter 7.6.15 "Set Color Profile", chapter 7.6.16 "Convert With Color Profile" and in chapter 7.10.1.36 "Color Management".