Fundamentals of the Version 4 Perceptual Rendering Intent

An understanding of image state concepts will assist in understanding and applying the ICC perceptual rendering intent.1 Essentially, image state conveys information content potential – pertaining to encoded color information. As color scientists we know that scenes in general have certain extents of color and tone information, scanned hardcopy originals in general have certain different extents of color and tone information, etc. From this general understanding, the image state semantic allows us to categorize encoded color information – based on real-world algorithm and encoding capabilities and constraints. A color object encoded in a particular image state is appropriate for the uses and output modes associated with that image state. Furthermore, the concept of image state allows us to clarify our understanding of the image processing relationships between different color information content potentials – that is between different image states, e.g., the fundamental processing required when transforming a scene to an image suitable for reflection print output.