The Digital Garden

ICC profile

2 min read

Common ICC Profiles

  • sRGB (IEC61966-2.1): The standard color space for web, digital cameras, and mobile devices.
    • Use Case: Default for web images, social media, and photos intended for screen display.
  • Rec. 709-A: recommended for Mac-based editing to ensure consistency
  • Rec. 709: standard for general HDTV video.
  • Rec. 2020: modern high-dynamic-range (HDR) work.
  • Adobe RGB (1998): A wider color gamut than sRGB.
    • Use Case: Professional photography intended for printing, capturing more vibrant greens and blues.

Other Profiles

  • DCI-P3 : theatrical releases.
  • ProPhoto RGB / ROMM RGB: An extremely large color gamut.
    • Use Case: Archival storage of raw photo data and professional editing of high-dynamic-range images.
  • Gracol 2006 / 2013 (CMYK): Standard for high-quality commercial offset printing.
    • Use Case: Professional offset print, magazines, and marketing materials in North America.
  • SWOP 2006 / 2013 (CMYK): Specifications for Web Offset Publications.
    • Use Case: Magazine printing, catalog printing, and publishing.
  • FOGRA39 / FOGRA51 (CMYK): European standard for commercial offset printing.
    • Use Case: General commercial printing, brochures, and posters in Europe.
  • Generic Printer Profiles (e.g., Canon, Epson): Manufacturer-provided profiles for specific paper and ink combinations.
    • Use Case: Fine art printing, photo inkjet printing.
  • Display/Monitor Profiles (e.g., .icm, .icc): Custom profiles created with calibration hardware (e.g., Spyder, i1Display).
    • Use Case: Matching the color on your screen to your final printed output.

Specialized Profiles

  • XYZ Profiles: Used as intermediate profiles for color conversion.
  • PRMG-based Profiles: Profiles based on Perceptual Reference Medium Gamut, used for evaluating color exchange spaces.
  • Device Link Profiles: Used for converting directly from one device space to another, such as converting from one CMYK standard to another.

Profile Types by Function

  1. Input Profiles: Cameras and scanners.
  2. Display Profiles: Monitors.
  3. Output Profiles: Printers, presses.
  4. Working Space Profiles: Creative software spaces like ProPhoto RGB. [1, 2, 3]

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