Photoshop and Color Management - Color Management for Photographers - page 95

all the various options are set, you can click Save and create a .psf file, 3
which can then be shared among other users. Note that this is the func-
tion of the Load button. ICC profiles selected in Proof Setup are embedded
in this .psf file, so sharing them allows other users access to these ICC
profiles. Within the Setup pop-up menu (name Customize Proof Condition
in Photoshop CS2) is a grayed-out menu item named Other . When you
load a .psf file, this becomes a placeholder location while that custom
proof setup is in use.
Note that saved proof setups can be used in the Print with Preview
command for proofing purposes, which will be discussed later. I mention
this because you may create and save custom proof setups for printing
documents from the Print with Preview command in addition to soft-
proofing.

Preserve Color Numbers

Going back to the Proof Setup dialog (named Customize Proof Condition in
Photoshop CS2), there are some additional options that should be dis-
cussed. The first is a check box named Preserve Color Numbers in Photo-
shop CS. In Photoshop CS2, the name of this option has been slightly
changed to reflect the current color space being preserved. In other
words, if the color space of the ICC profile selected is RGB, the name of
this option is Preserve RGB Numbers . If the ICC profile selected is CMYK,
the name would be Preserve CMYK Numbers . Otherwise, the functionality
is the same. When selected, a soft proof is produced that shows how the
current image would appear if the profile seen in the proof setup were
not applied to the document. An example would be having a document
in Adobe RGB (1998) to be printed on an Epson 2200. I've selected one
of the Epson output profiles and the soft proof shows me how the print
should appear [Adobe RGB (1998) to Epson 2200]. By clicking on this
check box I produce a soft proof that shows me how ugly the image
would appear if Adobe RGB (1998) is sent to the printer without being
converted using the Epson 22000 output profile. Adobe RGB (1998) isn't
close to the correct set of numbers needed for this printer. If I simply send
the Adobe RGB (1998) document to the printer, this is how poorly it will
reproduce.
Is the Preserve checkbox useful? Sometimes it is very useful. First, it
illustrates the need for print/output profiles and why we must convert
from the working space to a print/output space using a ICC profile. For

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The default folder where .psf files should be saved will be found in the
following locations: under Mac OS X in the user system library (User-Library-
Application Support-Adobe-Color-Proofing); under OS9 (System folder-
Application support-Adobe-Color-Proofing); under Windows (Program
files-Common Files-Adobe-Color-Proofing folder).