ICC Profiles Guide

English Version 1.0

Dedicated ICC Profile Types

Dedicated ICC profiles are provided for the following three media types:
Photo Paper Pro
Photo Paper Plus Glossy
Matte Photo Paper
Compatible Printers
A2200II models or later
Compatible Operating Systems
Windows 95* / 98 / 98SE / Me / 2000 / XP
* "Enable ICM" is not available in Windows 95.
Mac OS 9.x, Mac OS X Ver.10.2.1 or later
Compatible Printer Driver Versions
Windows 95 / 98 / 98SE / Me Ver. 8.0 or later
Windows 2000 / XP Ver.1.71 or later
Mac OS 9.x Ver.4.5 or later, Mac OS X Ver.2.0 or later

CONTENTS

What is Adobe RGB color space? 1

Dedicated ICC profiles allow images recorded with extended color gamut in Adobe RGB color space
to be printed using the full color reproduction range of BJ printers. 1

Printing with dedicated ICC profiles 2

Printing Adobe RGB images with extended color gamut 2–3

Samples 4

Printing using intents to suit requirements 5–6

Printing using original ICC profiles 6

Print samples
All samples are simulated images. Samples were output on Photo Paper Pro from an i900D printer, then input using a scanner.
Dedicated ICC profiles are used to ensure that image data recorded in Adobe RGB color space is reproduced correctly. Since
August XX 2003 Adobe RGB is a larger color gamut than CMYK or sRGB, the colors of the samples featured in this technology guide will differ
from the actual samples provided.
Inkjet Printer Products Recommended output printers
Creative Communication To confirm that the dedicated ICC profiles give the desired results, we recommend printing the technology guide on Photo
Dept. 1 Paper Pro from an i860 or i900D printer.
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Dedicated ICC profiles provided to allow accurate rendering of

image data recorded in Adobe RGB color space.
What is Adobe RGB color space?
The most widely used color space for digital camera image data is the sRGB color space. But in addition to sRGB,
certain high-end cameras such as the EOS-1Ds/1D/10D are capable of recording image data in Adobe RGB color
space, a color space commonly used for commercial printing applications. Adobe RGB color space provides a
broader color gamut than sRGB, particularly for colors in the cyan to green region. The reproduction range of BJ
printers is similarly extended beyond the sRGB range in the cyan to green region. In other words, Adobe RGB
provides a better match of the color reproduction ranges between these digital cameras and BJ printers than sRGB.

The Adobe RGB and BJ printer color space together extend the range of vivid color Adobe RGB sRGB PIXUS
beyond the sRGB color space, particularly in the regions from cyan to green. The
difference is especially noticeable for the greens of foliage and aqua tones of the sea.

Adobe RGB image The shaded areas are color regions

that cannot be reproduced in sRGB.

Dedicated ICC profiles allow images recorded with extended color gamut in Adobe RGB color space
to be printed using the full color reproduction range of BJ printers.
Printing Adobe RGB images without the suitable adjustments would result in the substitution of color data
outside the sRGB color range with sRGB colors, resulting in incorrect reproduction of colors on BJ printers,
particularly for the colors in the gray region in the sample shown above. This is why dedicated ICC profiles are
provided. These dedicated ICC profiles allow color reproduction information for image data to be transferred to
the BJ printer with virtually no loss, allowing use of the full BJ printer color reproduction range.

Recorded using Color management processing using Photoshop Printed on BJ printer

Adobe RGB mode
The image data is identified as having been recorded in Adobe RGB color Printing takes advantage of
space, and an Adobe RGB ICC profile (source profile) is associated with the full color reproduction
the digital camera image data for color management processing. The range of BJ printers for
dedicated ICC profile (printer profile) for the BJ printer is then used for accurate reproduction of
color conversion. original Adobe RGB colors.
Color conversion using
dedicated ICC profile

Image
Image data Image
data data

Adobe RGB ICC profile Image data transferred

associated with to BJ printer following
the image data color conversion

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Printing with dedicated

ICC profiles
Note 1:
The Canon digital camera was used for the examples
and procedures described here. These settings are
applicable to any Canon digital cameras using Adobe
RGB color space. Procedures may differ slightly for
digital cameras made by other manufacturers.
Note 2:
The examples described here apply for Photoshop 7.0
for Windows. The various setting screens may differ
slightly for earlier or Mac versions of Photoshop. The
color settings assumed are the default installation
settings. While procedures may differ slightly if the
settings have been customized by the user, the basic
workflow will remain the same.
Color setting screen for Photoshop 7.0 as installed

Printing Adobe RGB images with extended color gamut

Use the following settings to print Adobe RGB images with extended color gamut.

1 Open the image file recorded in Adobe RGB color space.

2 Associate the Adobe RGB ICC profile with the image.

Check [Adobe RGB (1998)] in [Image] --> [Mode] --> [Assign Profile...], then click [OK].

Canon digital cameras do not embed Adobe RGB profile into

images. Profiles must be assigned in Photoshop.

3 Set Color Management in Print with Preview.

Next page

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3-1 Check that [Source Space] is set to [Adobe RGB (1998)].

3-2 Set [Print Space] to [Printer Color Management].
3-3 Click [Print...].

Setting to [Printer Color Management]

sets the intent to [Perceptual].

4 Set up the printer driver.

4-1 Set [Media Type] and [Print Quality].

Dedicated ICC profiles are provided for three

different media types. For normal use, set [Media
Type] to one of the following:
Photo Paper Pro
Photo Paper Plus Glossy
Matte Photo Paper
Set the desired [Print Quality].
* The procedures described here for entering
settings also apply when using media types other
than those listed here.

4-2 Select [Manual] in [Color Adjustment], then

click [Set...]. Check [Enable ICM] in the
[Manual Color Adjustment] window.

[Enable ICM] is not available in Windows 95.

For Macintosh computers, select [ColorSync] in
[Color Correction].

5 Print.
The image is printed with the print quality and on the media type set in [4-1].

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Samples
These sample prints illustrate the differences between an Adobe RGB image printed using a dedicated ICC profile and an sRGB
image. The color differences are particularly noticeable in the cyan to green regions, where the color spaces differ significantly.

* All samples are simulated images. The precise color differences of the sample images when viewed on a monitor will depend on the monitor and Acrobat or Illustrator color
settings. The images on this page incorporate embedded sRGB or Adobe RGB profiles. For commercial printing tasks, carefully inspect sample output before proceeding.

Data recorded using Adobe RGB mode Data recorded using sRGB mode

The areas shaded gray indicate

color regions that cannot be
reproduced in sRGB.

The areas shaded gray indicate

color regions that cannot be
reproduced in sRGB.

The areas shaded gray indicate

color regions that cannot be
reproduced in sRGB.

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Printing using intents to suit requirements

Photoshop includes four different intents. Using dedicated ICC profiles, modify the intents as follows for
different print objectives:

1 Open an image recorded in Adobe RGB color space.

2 Associate the Adobe RGB ICC profile with the image.

Check [Adobe RGB (1998)] in [Image] --> [Mode] --> [Assign Profile...], then click [OK].

3 Set Color Management in Print with Preview.

3-1 Check that [Source Space] is set to [Adobe RGB (1988)].
3-2 Select [Profile] in [Print Space].

The following dedicated

ICC profiles are available:

MP2
PR1 The letters indicate media type.
PR2 MP = Matte Photo Paper
PR = Photo Paper Pro
SP2
SP = Photo Paper Plus Glossy
SP4 The numbers indicate print quality.*

* If there is no ICC profile for a particular number available

in the print quality bar, use a higher print quality number
than the number currently selected. For example, SP3 is
selectable in the print quality tool bar, but is not available
in the ICC profile, so use SP2 instead.

3-3 Select [Intent] in [Print Space].

The following intents are available:

Perceptual
Saturation
Relative Colorimetric
Absolute Colorimetric

Perceptual
Suitable for photo images, giving attractive gradation
reproduction. Matches colors to ensure that viewed colors are almost identical to original colors.
Saturation
Renders the vividness of the original data. Hue is not emphasized. Suitable for business documents.
Relative Colorimetric
Shifts colors based on the white point of the destination color space. Otherwise identical to Absolute Colorimetric.
Absolute Colorimetric
Emphasizes accurate retention of colors in both the original and converted color spaces.

3-4 Uncheck [Use Black Point Compensation].

3-5 Click [Print..].
Next page

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4 Set up the printer driver

4-1 Set [Media Type] and [Print Quality].

Set the same dedicated ICC profile
selected in [3-2].
In this example, [PR1] is selected for Photo
Paper Pro and Print Quality 1.

4-2 Select [Manual] in [Color Adjustment] and

click [Set]. Set [Print Type] to [None].

5 Print.
The image is printed using the dedicated ICC profile selected in [3-2] and the intent selected in [3-3].

Printing using original ICC profiles

When using original ICC profiles created by the user, make settings in the same way (except for the
items below) as for "Printing using intents to suit requirements" on pages 5 to 6.

Setting differences
Page 5: [3-2] Profile selection
Select the original ICC profile.

Page 6: [4-1] Media type and print quality selection, [4-2] Intent
Set to the same conditions used when the ICC profile was created.