A color profile is a file with the icc or icm extension that contains the settings required by any computer device to correct its individual color rendering characteristics. These files are commonly found in installation kits for printers, plotters, displays, scanners, and other devices related to accurate color reproduction.
Instructions
Step 1
Typically, color profiles are installed with the peripheral drivers, but you can also do this separately from the installation process. Usually, for installation, you need to open the properties window of a specific device. For example, to set the color profile for your monitor, you need to right-click a free space on the desktop, select Properties from the shortcut menu, and go to the Options tab. There is a button labeled "Advanced", by clicking which you open the monitor properties window. The Color Management tab is used here to manage color profiles. The Add button will allow you to select the file containing the color rendition settings you want to set.
Step 2
To install the color profile of the printer, you first need to open the control panel by selecting the appropriate item in the menu on the "Start" button. Then, first click on the "Printers and other hardware" link, and then click on the "Printers and scanners" link. This will open a window with a list of installed printers. Right-click the device you are interested in and select Properties. The printer settings panel also has a "Color Management" tab and a new color profile file is also installed using the "Add" button.
Step 3
Some software related to accurate color rendering, like physical devices, requires a color profile to be set. For example, in the graphics editor Adobe Photoshop, the corresponding link is placed in the "Editing" section of the menu and is named "Color Adjustments". The hotkeys SHIFT + CTRL + K are assigned to this item. In the color settings window, you can select from the installed profiles, or add new ones using the "Load" button.
