Color Matching with ICC Profiles - Take One

The introduction of ICC-based color management solutions promises a multitude of solutions to graphic arts imaging needs. To those of us who have been involving in the technology of graphic arts imaging, the best way to understand the performance of CMS is to test it. We decided to focus our initial effort on color matching aspects of the ICC profiles. To test the degree of color matching, a number of color patches that are reproduced by a hard copy output device in CIELAB values were specified as aim points. These colors were reproduced by the same output device according to the experimental design which involves three factors: ICC-compliant profiling tool, color rendering style, and work flow. The experimental design yields 8 sets of data. The degree of color matching is judged by average ∆E between the color produced and its original colorimetric specifications. We learned that the accuracy of color matching depends on the work flow, device profiling tools, and color rendering style. An average ∆E of 6.5 represents the best scenario in this particular color matching effort. Other factors such as precision or repeatability of the desktop printer and the measurement instrument which may have contributed differences in color matching were also discussed.