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Mac Users: Color Space and Color Profile Questions + Photoshop

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JudyKonopka

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Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
 
JudyKonopka said:
Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Do not choose the monitor calibration when you create a new document. Your monitor calibration is just for your monitor. sRGB is the color space of your document (image file) and the printing profile is for when you print your document. You choose the profile that corresponds to the paper you're using to print your document. That's the very basic. I'm sure others will be along to explain further.
 
Last edited:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Do not choose the monitor calibration when you create a new document. Your monitor calibration is just for your monitor. sRGB is the color space of your document (image file) and the printing profile is for when you print your document. You choose the profile that corresponds to the paper you're using to print your document. That's the very basic. I'm sure others will be along to explain further.

--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Ahhh. I do understand some of this, but am confused why ALL the icc profiles are together. It seems the monitor, the working space AND the printer profiles are stored in one folder. That seems awfully unorganized. Thanks!
 
JudyKonopka said:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Do not choose the monitor calibration when you create a new document. Your monitor calibration is just for your monitor. sRGB is the color space of your document (image file) and the printing profile is for when you print your document. You choose the profile that corresponds to the paper you're using to print your document. That's the very basic. I'm sure others will be along to explain further.

--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Ahhh. I do understand some of this, but am confused why ALL the icc profiles are together. It seems the monitor, the working space AND the printer profiles are stored in one folder. That seems awfully unorganized. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I can see your confusion when they're all in pretty much the same folder. Mine wound up in a couple different folders for some reason. Here's a screenshot of how mine are organized. You can see my display and printer profiles are in different folders. I suppose you can create folders and organize them.



6189405c0f444b599002a49617fc6341.jpg.png




--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
 
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Do not choose the monitor calibration when you create a new document. Your monitor calibration is just for your monitor. sRGB is the color space of your document (image file) and the printing profile is for when you print your document. You choose the profile that corresponds to the paper you're using to print your document. That's the very basic. I'm sure others will be along to explain further.

--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Ahhh. I do understand some of this, but am confused why ALL the icc profiles are together. It seems the monitor, the working space AND the printer profiles are stored in one folder. That seems awfully unorganized. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I can see your confusion when they're all in pretty much the same folder. Mine wound up in a couple different folders for some reason. Here's a screenshot of how mine are organized. You can see my display and printer profiles are in different folders. I suppose you can create folders and organize them.

6189405c0f444b599002a49617fc6341.jpg.png


--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Great. I watched Digidog's first "movie" and it answered all my questions, except one - and I think this is where my problem is (thanks so much!). From My understanding, I can either print allowing the printer to make color decisions or Photoshop (which I believe uses ColorSync). When I choose Photoshop for Color Handling, I can't use ColorSynch (it gives me an error). When I choose the "Printer" to handle color, ColorSync is unavailable in Print Settings. So, there's no way to use Colorsync as it is always unavailable. I am unsure as to why?
 
You should always use "Photoshop Manages Color". Then click on PRINT SETTINGS choose your paper type from the PRESET pull down menu. You can also choose your paper size there. Then click on LAYOUT>PRINT SETTINGS> and choose you media type click SAVE then PRINT. That should get you to where you wanna go.
 
if you want a color managed workflow, pick Photoshop manages Color and dont worry about the ColorSync setting. You dont want 'Printer Manages Color'.

Set the printer, printer/paper ICC profile, and rendering intent and hit Print. The only other thing to consider is the final DPI but you can let PS deal w/ that at the moment.
 
JudyKonopka said:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Do not choose the monitor calibration when you create a new document. Your monitor calibration is just for your monitor. sRGB is the color space of your document (image file) and the printing profile is for when you print your document. You choose the profile that corresponds to the paper you're using to print your document. That's the very basic. I'm sure others will be along to explain further.

--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Ahhh. I do understand some of this, but am confused why ALL the icc profiles are together. It seems the monitor, the working space AND the printer profiles are stored in one folder. That seems awfully unorganized. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I can see your confusion when they're all in pretty much the same folder. Mine wound up in a couple different folders for some reason. Here's a screenshot of how mine are organized. You can see my display and printer profiles are in different folders. I suppose you can create folders and organize them.

6189405c0f444b599002a49617fc6341.jpg.png


--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Great. I watched Digidog's first "movie" and it answered all my questions, except one - and I think this is where my problem is (thanks so much!). From My understanding, I can either print allowing the printer to make color decisions or Photoshop (which I believe uses ColorSync). When I choose Photoshop for Color Handling, I can't use ColorSynch (it gives me an error). When I choose the "Printer" to handle color, ColorSync is unavailable in Print Settings.

So, there's no way to use Colorsync as it is always unavailable. I am unsure as to why?
Click to expand...
Correct and by design. In some (few) applications like Photoshop and Lightroom, IF you select Application Manages Color, they gray out the options in this dialog box so you can't pick the wrong setting. It should be ColorSync but grayed out. You will not see this behavior with all applications on the Mac.



--
Andrew Rodney
Author: Color Management for Photographers
The Digital Dog
 
FunkySpoo said:
You should always use "Photoshop Manages Color". Then click on PRINT SETTINGS choose your paper type from the PRESET pull down menu. You can also choose your paper size there. Then click on LAYOUT>PRINT SETTINGS> and choose you media type click SAVE then PRINT. That should get you to where you wanna go.
Click to expand...
 
digidog said:
JudyKonopka said:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
FunkySpoo said:
JudyKonopka said:
Hi there!

I am tearing my hair out. I know a color setting must be off some place, so I am trying to understand setting my colors and it's a VERY BIG SUBJECT. I really just need some quick answers. I use a Spyder to calibrate my monitor, which creates a color profile named "IMac Profile".

When I create a new document, should I always select the calibration profile I made for the monitor, i.e., the IMAC Profile (versus SRGB?). Why are printing profiles also in this list? I usually choose them when I go to print.

I'm very confused. Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Do not choose the monitor calibration when you create a new document. Your monitor calibration is just for your monitor. sRGB is the color space of your document (image file) and the printing profile is for when you print your document. You choose the profile that corresponds to the paper you're using to print your document. That's the very basic. I'm sure others will be along to explain further.

--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Ahhh. I do understand some of this, but am confused why ALL the icc profiles are together. It seems the monitor, the working space AND the printer profiles are stored in one folder. That seems awfully unorganized. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I can see your confusion when they're all in pretty much the same folder. Mine wound up in a couple different folders for some reason. Here's a screenshot of how mine are organized. You can see my display and printer profiles are in different folders. I suppose you can create folders and organize them.

6189405c0f444b599002a49617fc6341.jpg.png


--
No matter where you go, there you are -Buckaroo Banzai
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139525255@N08/
Click to expand...
Great. I watched Digidog's first "movie" and it answered all my questions, except one - and I think this is where my problem is (thanks so much!). From My understanding, I can either print allowing the printer to make color decisions or Photoshop (which I believe uses ColorSync). When I choose Photoshop for Color Handling, I can't use ColorSynch (it gives me an error). When I choose the "Printer" to handle color, ColorSync is unavailable in Print Settings.

So, there's no way to use Colorsync as it is always unavailable. I am unsure as to why?
Click to expand...
Correct and by design. In some (few) applications like Photoshop and Lightroom, IF you select Application Manages Color, they gray out the options in this dialog box so you can't pick the wrong setting. It should be ColorSync but grayed out. You will not see this behavior with all applications on the Mac.

--
Andrew Rodney
Author: Color Management for Photographers
The Digital Dog
http://www.digitaldog.net
Click to expand...
That's good to know. Thank you.
 
Thanks for chiming in Digidog. I was hoping you would.
 
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