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ADOBE ACROBAT 8 STANDARD
User Guide
for most cameras). Advanced users may also consider using different profiles for different light sources. For scanner
profiles, some photographers create separate profiles for each type or brand of film scanned on a scanner.
Output device profiles
Describe the color space of output devices like desktop printers or a printing press. The color
management system uses output device profiles to properly map the colors in a document to the colors within the
gamut of an output device’s color space. The output profile should also take into consideration specific printing
conditions, such as the type of paper and ink. For example, glossy paper is capable of displaying a different range of
colors than matte paper.
Most printer drivers come with built-in color profiles. It’s a good idea to try these profiles before you invest in custom
profiles.
Document profiles
Define the specific RGB or CMYK color space of a document. By assigning, or
tagging
, a
document with a profile, the application provides a definition of actual color appearances in the document. For
example, R=127, G=12, B=107 is just a set of numbers that different devices will display differently. But when tagged
with the Adobe RGB color space, these numbers specify an actual color or wavelength of light–in this case, a specific
color of purple.
When color management is on, Adobe applications automatically assign new documents a profile based on Working
Space options in the Color Settings dialog box. Documents without assigned profiles are known as
untagged
and
contain only raw color numbers. When working with untagged documents, Adobe applications use the current
working space profile to display and edit colors.
A
B
C
D
Managing color with profiles
A.
Profiles describe the color spaces of the input device and the document.
B.
Using the profiles’ descriptions, the color management system
identifies the document’s actual colors.
C.
The monitor’s profile tells the color management system how to translate the document’s numeric
values to the monitor’s color space.
D.
Using the output device’s profile, the color management system translates the document’s numeric values
to the color values of the output device so the correct appearance of colors is printed.
See also
“Calibrate and profile your monitor” on page 317
“Letting the printer determine colors when printing” on page 314