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SOFT Proofing

Our Canon iPF5100 printer has custom profiles prepared for all of the paper stocks on which we offer prints. This ensures the best possible colour accuracy, so that your prints are the best match to what you see on your monitor. This section explains how to soft proof your files using our supplied ICC profiles.

 

Your screen must be calibrated.

This should be done with a quality hardware calibrator, which adjusts your screen to a known standard. This is vital as the ICC profile adjusts the printer to match the appearance of an image on a calibrated screen.

About monitor brightness.

Ideally you should adjust your display luminosity to 90-100 cd/m2 with your calibration device. Some new LCD panels are extremely bright and need to be turned down substantially, however do not go below about 10% brightness.

If you edit on a screen that is too bright your prints will appear too dark as you have compensated for screen brightness in the editing.

Soft Proofing

Soft Proofing is available in full Photoshop only, Unfortunately elements does not include this useful feature.

To soft proof first you need to download the profile for your chosen paper stock, from the links at the bottom of this page. Then follow these steps:

 

1. When you have downloaded the profile right click and choose Install (Windows) or On a Mac, copy the profile to: Mac OS 9.x: Systems Folder/ColorSync Profiles or Mac OS/X: User Library /ColorSync/Profiles. If desired duplicate your image to allow you to compare the edited image with the soft proof. It is recommended to work on a copy or your image, not the original.

2. In Photoshop with your final edited file open, use the command View ~~> Proof Setup ~~> Custom.

3. From the drop down menu Profile: select the profile you downloaded and select the desired rendering intent. Perceptual is recommended, you will need to tell us if you use any intent other than perceptual.

4. Check "use Black Point Compensation" Do not check simulate paper white or ink black.

5. The view will show a simulation of the print appearance. You can toggle between your edited file and the soft proof using Ctrl - Y. You should now adjust the file if necessary to compensate for any changes that are shown in the soft proof. You may see a slight reduction in contrast, this is due to your screen having an inherently higher contrast ratio than what is possible in any print. You may also notice a slight colour shift. Edit the file as required to get the desired appearance for your print.

6. Check for out of gamut colours using the command View ~~> Gamut Warning. Use Ctrl-Shift-y to toggle the gamut warning on and off, If desired edit the file to compensate for out of gamut colours use your judgement to decide if the out of gamut colour is satisfactory, Follow the link to File preparation to ensure your file has been prepared correctly.

Editing Environment

Note that you should do editing for prints in subdued lighting and without large coloured sufaces nearby which may effect your perception of print colour. Also the calibration assumes you will be viewing the print in bright light at about 500lux, low key dark prints in particular will look too dark unless viewed under bright lighting.

Downloads:
Download the profile for printing on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag
 
Download the profile for printing on Canson Photo Satin
 
Download the profile for printing on Ilford Gold Fibre Silk