ICC PROFILES
Understanding ICC Profiles & How to Use Them
When it comes to photographic printing, colour accuracy is everything. Whether you’re producing exhibition work, portfolio prints, or client deliveries, you want what’s on screen to translate faithfully to paper. That’s where ICC profiles come in. An ICC (International Color Consortium) profile is essentially a translator between devices—monitor, printer, and paper. Each device interprets colour a little differently, and ICC profiles create a consistent language to ensure what you see on screen matches the final print as closely as possible.
Every printer-paper combination behaves uniquely. A satin paper on one machine may render colours slightly warmer than a matte paper on another. ICC profiles account for these nuances, calibrating the colour output for each setup to help achieve true-to-life results.
Why Our Profiles Matter
At AG Photolab, we’ve carefully profiled all of our printer and paper combinations using industry-standard colour calibration tools. This means you can soft-proof your images with confidence, knowing how your chosen paper stock will handle contrast, saturation, and tonal detail before you print.
Whether you’re using Hahnemühle Photo Rag, Fujiflim Lustre, our downloadable ICC profiles allow you to preview exactly how your image will render on each surface.
How to Use Our ICC Profiles
- Download the Profiles: Head to the links below and grab the profiles for the paper types you plan to use.
- Install Them Properly: On macOS, drop them into
Library/ColorSync/Profiles. On Windows, right-click and select “Install Profile.” - Use a Calibrated Monitor: For accurate soft-proofing, make sure your display is calibrated. Without this step, even the best ICC profile won’t give you a reliable preview.
- Soft-Proof in Photoshop or Lightroom: Enable soft-proofing and select the relevant AG Photolab ICC profile. This will give you a preview of how your image will print. Pay attention to any shifts in colour, shadow detail, or highlight clipping—and adjust if needed.
- Export with the Profile in Mind: Export your print file in Adobe RGB or sRGB as required, ensuring that colour management is preserved throughout.
Download our Profiles
These are ICC Colour Profiles that have been specifically created for AG Photolab’s different paper options. Click on the links below to download specific Profiles
Need a Hand?
We know colour management can be daunting. If you’re unsure which profile to use or how to interpret soft-proofing results, get in touch. We’re always happy to look over your files, suggest adjustments, or walk you through the process.
