Source profile = Press profile or "what you want the proof to simulate"
Destination profile = Epson 4000 profile or "what device I'm actually
proofing it on"
So it's..... Source/press profile ----> PCS (Lab/XYZ/?) ---------->
Destination profile
Absolute Colorimetric = simulate paper white of Source on Destination
media (more accurate)
Relative Colorimetric = no simulation of source paper white on
destination (less accurate but sometimes more "pleasing")
(The conversion to PCS is generally transparent to the user but I'm
including it simply for accuracy)
Depending on the RIP (if you're using one that is), the terms "Source"
and "Destination" might be altered adding to the confusion. On a
ColorBurst RIP, they (incorrectly) refer to the Source as the "Input"
profile and the Destination as the "Output" profile. Other terms by
some other RIPs might include "Reference Profile" for source and
"Paper Profile" as destination. And I'm sure there's more.
Another term that adds to the confusion is "Simulation" profile. In a
Simulation profile workflow/conversion, it looks like this:
This workflow can be used if one is starting with an RGB file but
wants to "simulate" the conversion to the press profile without
actually converting to CMYK beforehand. A Simulation profile is
GENERALLY not used if one is starting with press-ready CMYK data but
it COULD be used if one would like to simulate a SWOP separation going
to, say, SNAP/newsprint.
Hope this helps,
Terry Wyse
On Dec 13, 2007, at 10:15 AM, Robert Rock wrote:
A simple question for most of you, but would appreciate your
indulgence.
What is the workflow for printing an image that will simulate the
output on
an offset press?
To be clear, I want to demonstrate to someone a side by side
comparison of
an image showing the effects of printing (on an Epson4000), from
Photoshop,
the image as A) With a generic CMYK profile, and B) With a custom
profile. I
recall many years ago discussing this with some folks at ErgoSoft
(StudioPrint), and their procedure involved using the Absolute
Colorimetric
Rendering intent, but I don't recall the precise workflow. Any
direction
would be appreciated.
