ICC Profile

ICC Profiles are a tool to make the most out of our work by using colour efficiently and knowledgeably. The International Color Consortium (ICC) have standardized sets of data that characterizes a colour from input or output device, or a colour space.

These profiles are necessary as they can show us the final image outcome on our screen and compare between different profiles. With out knowing we can easily and instantaneously lose colour quality from photographs we import, and the quality lost can be drastic. Not to mention time and money wasted.

To further explain what ICC profiles are, they can give information of the pixels within digital photographic files. Information such as; the very darkest to the very lightest tones the file can hold.
The Gamut (range of colours) that the file is capable of showing. The relationship between these colours and tones as well as the distribution. All by 3 dimensionalizing colour information. The bellow images shows two 3D Gamuts (the range of potential colour a system can produce). The smaller one represents the standard sRGB profile and the larger transparent one represents the adobe RGB profile. (note- transparent as it is not selected).

Before comparing first notice the shape of these spectrums of colour. At each corner we see the point of red, green and blue. We can clearly see the colours fade into each other by becoming different tones. The 3D area is representative of the information of colour the profile has. So what if there is more information? Then of course the 3D area becomes larger and therefor represents even more colour. The Adobe RGB is a much richer profile as can be seen when compared (top photo). When the Adobe RGB is selected you can see the full colour of information is has, as we can see bellow. Profiles can also describe the capabilities of monitors, scanners, cammeras and also printers. aswell as any device that captures, displays or outputs colour can be described by a profile.

The bellow image shows a 2D Gamut representing and comparing other ICC profiles. The largest shape of colour represents the colour the human eye can see. The various coloured triangles represent the corresponding (by colour) profiles.

Colour Systems

Colour systems are methods in which colour is produced.
Additive  & Subtractive (also known as Reflective) are the 2 colour systems.

The Additive colour system is based on 3 colours. RED, GREEN & BLUE also referred to as RGB. these are the prime colours of this system instead of the primary colours we are used to (red, yellow, blue).

The concept here is simple. Anything that emits light such as the sun or a bulb is an additive colour. Red, green and blue are not the only colours that this system is capable of. Here different colours are created by a mixture of different wavelengths of light. Hues can be created by adding or decreasing light. The more light you add the brighter the colour, whereas the less light you add, the darker the colour. The negative space is apparent as the colour black as there is an absence of colour. The colour white on the other hand is a combination of colours.

Subtractive or Reflective colour is the complete opposite of additive. This system works on the basis of reflecting light rather than emitting it. Here the prime colours are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow referred to as CMY.

Colour is Determined by the way a certain pigment reflects different wavelengths of light as it makes contact and reflects into the human eye. In this system the negative or absence of colour is represented by the colour white, while black is the mixture of colour. Although it must be kept in mind that this is an imperfect system as light is not emitted it is reflected off the pigment which does not fully absorb light. Taking this into consideration a fourth pigment is used to compensate. This is called Key, and the famous CMYK was born. Key is a black pigment which is required as without it we would not be able to render the colour black properly and accurately.