From: Scott Nelson <SNelson@xxxxxxxx>
In my experience, ICC profiles are only slightly better than the PS "Auto
Levels" command.
My experience is quite the opposite. My entire work-flow uses
profiles, and I can go from light-table, to scanner, to monitor, to
comping (color laser printer) to final output (50" Hexachrome
ink-jet), and everything matches. I just don't give it much thought.
It just works.
Perhaps you have something set up wrong, Scott. It sounds like you
may be using "absolute colormetric" matching instead of "perceptual."
Perceptual matching will not cause color shifts the way that "auto
levels" does. Also, if you think color matching is important, you
should be using "auto contrast" instead of "auto levels," since it
works on Photoshop's internal luminance channel rather than
independently shifting the end points of the individual RGB channels.
The only thing that has ever worked for me is by-the-numbers
correction in CMYK mode and test prints form the actual output device.
If you do that, you're manually doing what an ICC profile does, but
only for one device. You want to go change everything if you have to
go to a different press or paper? Nah, didn't think so!
This is
the method that every 4 color offset press shop uses.
Now I don't believe you. I know of many printers that rely on
profiles, and at least one that will not guaranty color matching
unless your source material comes profiled.
So in the least, you should change "every" to "in my experience,
every" and then I can't argue with your limited experience! :-) But
certainly, my experience differs.
ICC profiles are yet
another attempt to beat human experience and judgement with software
automation.
That's not fair. You can adjust things to your heart's content in a
profiled work-flow, and they'll come out the way you see them.
Profiles in no way get in the way of tweaking things the way you want
them.
One could just as easily say that styles for text formatting are also
a way to "beat human experience." I don't want to have to go through
a brochure and make sure every little nuance of text formatting is
consistent, and I don't want to have to correct colors for every
device I use.
That's what computers are for, handling the boring bits so we humans
can do the creative stuff unencumbered! I don't especially think
color-correcting for various devices is an especially creative and
rewarding way to spend my time.
: Jan Steinman <mailto:Jan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
: Bytesmiths <http://www.bytesmiths.com>
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