Tools & Tips

Color Management

What is Color Management?

The name Color Management refers to the technologies and processes used to achieve color consistency while reproducing an image. Achieving a perfect match between the original work and the reproduction is a difficult task.

The scanner or camera, the monitor, the printer, the inks, and the paper used are all key elements in the tool chain. Devices such as ICC profiles, RIP software, color management programs, and monitor settings help to control and maximise the color accuracy and consistency.

What does RGB mean?

RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue.

These colors are known as the primary colors of light. RGB is the original computer color space is also used for capturing and displaying images.

What does CMYK mean?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and black.

This color space is traditionally used for printing. The colors are mixed by the printer or printing plates to create all other colors. In theory, cyan, magenta, and yellow can reproduce all colors when mixed up, but the inks are not pure and blacks do not come out as clean as with an RGB system. Thus, black ink is required for quality printing. Most inkjet printers dedicated to Digital Fine Art and Photo can now print in RGB as the colour gamut is wider.

What is the colour gamut?

The gamut describes the range of colors that can be reproduced and processed on devices such as a computer monitor or printer. The expression "out of gamut" means that the color cannot be shown accurately on the target devices. For example, when a printer cannot convert a color that is shown on the monitor.

What does D-Max mean?

The D-Max describes the darkest black, measured as an optical density, that a printer can output or that a paper can show.

What is a RIP?

RIP stands for Raster Image Processor.

A RIP is hardware and/or software that interprets and converts data such as Postscript into the actual dots of an image to accurately display or print an image. A RIP therefore sends more detailed information to the printer than an ICC profile.

What is an ICC profile?

ICC stands for "International Color Consortium."

This is an ISO color management standard that helps to specify what the attributes of imaging devices (printers, scanners, monitors, and cameras) shoudl be so that the colors of an image remain true to the original when processed and printed. The ICC profile takes into account the printers attributes and fine tunes the color mixture in order to achieve accurate color reproduction.

What is IT8?

This is the standard color calibration chart used in the imaging industry to create color profiles for devices such as scaners and printers.

When should I use an ICC profile?

We recommend that you always use the ICC profile adapted to the printer and paper you are using.

The ICC profile will enable you to maximise the print quality and accuracy of the original colors by calibrating the printer settings. Because each paper has a slightly different shade and reacts differently, it is important to use the ICC profile that is sepcifically designed for your printer and paper.

What profile should I use for my printer?

A profile is designed for a specific media used with a specific printer. You should therefore chose the ICC profile that is developed specifically for the paper and printer combination that you are using.

When should I use a RIP?

RIP software/hardware requires extensive knowledge of color management and printing processes. It is very much appreciated when you want to print very sophisticated results. However, you can "just" use an ICC profile and get great results even if you are not a color management expert.

Why is there a difference between the colors on my computer screen and on the print?

The print result varies depending on the specific printer, the printer settings, and the inks and paper you are using. The colors you see on the monitor depend on your specific monitor and its settings.

Your monitor shows colors using the RGB color space while most printers print using a CMYK color space. Therefore, the color spectrum differs between the two devices.

An ICC profile, RIP software, and/or color calibration tools for your monitor will enable you to achieve similar colors in both formats.

What does DPI mean? What is the “resolution” of an image?

The resolution of an image is measured by the number of dots (or pixels) per inch that make up a digital image. This is referred to as dpi or ppi.

The higher the number of pixels per inch, the better the precision or resolution of the image. For example, a resolution of 300dpi tells us that the image is made up of 90,000 pixels in every square inch.