I develop my raw digital file, see it in PS CS5, then apply my custom .icc paper profile. This of course shows me what the final printed file will (almost) look like. The digital file includes the 24 patch passport color checker, as part of the total image. This way I can adjust the white balance with gray patch under the yellow patch. When I do this I have not yet applied the paper profile. All is well and good. Then the paper profile is applied and the image on the monitor (NEC MULTISYNC PA 271W) changes to show what the printed image might look like. Okay. What I cannot understand is why the values on the gray patch are still the same as without the paper profile applied. With eye dropper on the gray patch or on the sky or anywhere, there is no change in the values. I assume with paper profiled applied there would be a real change. I can have the eye dropper on one spot on the monitor, apple and take away and apply again, and values don't change. What does change, is my visual perception of the image. And not the actual values. How do I make it so the gray patch is actually valid and making a change when I use the paper profile? OS Snow Leopard, MacBook Pro 8,3, 16 bit RGB image. Monitor, printer, camera/lens/sensor/light: All custom .icc profiled by me. David B Miller, Pharm. D. member Millers' Photography L.L.C. dba Spinnaker Photo Imaging Center Bellingham, WA www.spinnakerphotoimagingcenter.com 360 739 2826