PHOTOSHOP CS3
User Guide
137
Proofing colors
Soft-proofing colors
In a traditional publishing workflow, you print a hard proof of your document to preview how its colors will look
when reproduced on a specific output device. In a color-managed workflow, you can use the precision of color
profiles to soft-proof your document directly on the monitor. You can display an on-screen preview of how your
document’s colors will look when reproduced on a particular output device.
Keep in mind that the reliability of the soft proof depends upon the quality of your monitor, the profiles of your
monitor and output devices, and the ambient lighting conditions of your work environment.
Note:
A soft proof alone doesn’t let you preview how overprinting will look when printed on an offset press. If you work
with documents that contain overprinting, turn on Overprint Preview to accurately preview overprints in a soft proof.
Using a soft proof to preview the final output of a document on your monitor
A.
Document is created in its working color space.
B.
Document’s color values are translated to color space of chosen proof profile (usually the
output device’s profile).
C.
Monitor displays proof profile’s interpretation of document’s color values.
Soft-proof colors
1
Choose View > Proof Setup, and do one of the following:
•
Choose a preset that corresponds to the output condition you want to simulate.
•
Choose Custom (Photoshop and InDesign) or Customize (Illustrator) to create a custom proof setup for a specific
output condition. This option is recommended for the most accurate preview of your final printed piece.
2
Choose View > Proof Colors to toggle the soft-proof display on and off. When soft proofing is on, a check mark
appears next to the Proof Colors command, and the name of the proof preset or profile appears at the top of the
document window.
To compare the colors in the original image and the colors in the soft proof, open the document in a new window
before you set up the soft proof.
Soft-proof presets
Working CM
Y
K
Creates a soft proof of colors using the current CMYK working space as defined in the Color Settings
dialog box.
Document CM
Y
K (InDesign)
Creates a soft proof of colors using the document’s CMYK profile.
Working Cyan Plate, Working Magenta Plate, Working
Y
ellow Plate, Working Black Plate, or Working CM
Y
Plates
(Photoshop)
Creates a soft proof of specific CMYK ink colors using the current CMYK working space.
Macintosh RGB or Windows RGB (Photoshop and Illustrator)
Creates a soft proof of colors in an image using either a
standard Mac OS or Windows monitor as the proof profile space to simulate. Both options assume that the simulated
device will display your document without using color management. Neither option is available for Lab or CMYK
documents.
A
B
C
