What's an ICC Profile?
Icc profiles are files that contain the color characteristics (basically tables of numbers) of the device they are created for - whether it be a monitor, printer or scanner. The profile allows the device to reproduce the colors of a graphic as accurately as possible within the gamut of that device. ICC profiles for your scanner, monitor and printer are essential for color management.
Profiles are instrumental in converting RGB images into CMYK or vice versa. One misnomer is the way to convert an image in Photoshop from RGB to CMYK would be to pick Image, Mode, CMYK. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Ever convert an RGB image this way and it looks washed out? The correct way (if you are using CS and above) is to select Edit, Convert to Profile, and select the CMYK Profile you want to convert.
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