At a glance
- A screen emits light; paper reflects it.
- A profile must match the process in use.
- Only one stage handles colour conversion.
Create a comparison reference
A very bright screen can make a print look too dark even when the file is unchanged. Examine a dry print under stable lighting and compare prints with each other before correcting every image.
Use a reference image with greys, colours, details and solid areas. Keep the same file for tests. Changing artwork brightness, media and driver together makes differences hard to explain.
Understand what an ICC describes
A print profile describes a combination of printer, inks, paper and settings. A profile for another brand’s paper or another mode does not become accurate because the finish name is similar.
This guide supplies no validated in-house ICC profile. If no suitable profile exists, do not present a neighbouring profile as measured: start with documented driver management and treat the result as a practical comparison, not a colour-accuracy certification.
Avoid double correction
Choose who handles conversion: the application with a suitable profile, or the driver following its documented procedure. If both apply a correction in parallel, colours can shift. Read the exact options in your application and driver.
Questions about this guide
Does an ICC profile fix smudging ink?
No. Check ink, coating, media type and drying first. Colour management does not make an unsuitable combination compatible.
Why does the same file look different on different finishes?
The media, its reflections and absorption affect the visible result. Compare under the same light and keep documented settings for each paper.
Sources
Manufacturer limits apply to the media and feed paths stated in each document. A documentary match is not a physical test of our cardstock.
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