Workflow and ICC profile

[wayne0k]

Hi, I'm hoping I might get some expert advice regarding workflow and changing an ICC profile for printing.

Currently working with:
RAW image >
PSCS3 RAW (workspace = RGB 98, largest 8-bit color space, correct?) >
PSCS3 PSD (workspace = RGB 98) >
Save As TIFF/JPEG >
output to local photo printers.

This has yielded good good prints from my local printers but not-so-good results from commercial printers who suggest that I do not embed my color space profile (they can't work with RGB 98, and it has been suggested that sRGB has too small a color space to produce exceptional prints) with my images and allow them to make color corrections. Alternatively, they have provided ICC profiles for each of their printers, which seems a better solution to me.

My first question is, when/where in the workflow is the best place to change the color profile of the image? I am hoping that this can be done somewhere in the flow after retouching/pp has been done so that I can then decide on which profile to use for local printing or to send out to my commercial printer.

Can anyone tell me if there are risks in changing the color profile (A to B), saving the image, then reverting back (B to A), when working with a PSD or TIFF file type?

My observation has been that changing the profile (A to B) late in the workflow (just before saving images for printing) results in an unsatisfactory soft proof and on-screen appearance, and requires exposure and color balance adjustments (though the soft proof does provide a pretty accurate display of what to expect from the commercial printer).

Is there a way to have the best of both worlds, where I can edit my image and have the quick flexibility to print to either printer method, or, do I need to follow a single path to output for each printer method?

Any other suggestion? Have I missed something?
Thanks to all!
Wayne

 

[Jim Hess]

The practice I have adopted is to convert to sRGB at the very end of the editing process. You probably already know this, but you should use Convert to Profile rather than Assign Profile. But my conversions have gone very nicely.

I would also suggest that after you do the conversion you save a new file with that conversion so that you have images with both profiles.

 

[E Slagle]

Converting to a smaller color space (say sRBG) from a larger color space (Adobe or ProPhoto) and back again results in lost data. If your converting to a smaller space for output (web, print) make sure to "Save as" thus preserving the archived file.

Sounds like a good task for actions. You can process your lab destination flies specifically for your print service and only keep these around until the job is complete all the while preserving the integrity of your archived files without any accidental color space conversions.

Eric

 

[wayne0k]

Jim & Eric, thank you for your insight.

Your suggestions and cautions pretty much match my suspicions regarding this step in my workflow. I had hoped to reign in the need to create these additional 'child' images from the originals but that just doesn't seem too likely. Recording actions and strict note keeping will keep things straight. Bottom line is producing better and more reliable prints.
Thanks again!