Making softproof for HPZ2100 gamut using ProfileMaker?

[raol]

Dear all,

I'm trying to build a softproof ICC profile for a HPZ2100 gamut. The ICC is needed for softproofing AdobeRGB1998-tagged images in Photoshop, using a self-calibrating EIZO ColorEdge display. The idea is to cut down on hardproofs and use softproofing when approving/performing image corrections in Photoshop.
The standard ECI printer profiles (eg. ISO Coated v2, PSO, PSR etc) are not accurate enough when compared to a hardproof in a lightbooth.

I've used GMG ColorServer Profile Editor software for the first custom softproof ICC generation. With the ColorServer version of GMG's Profile Editor software you're able to create a RGB MX4 file, apply gamut mapping, and export to ICC. This looks a lot better than standard profiles, but it's still not good enough. The softproof needs an overall boost in saturation - this is especially true for reds/magenta. The hardproof is just much better in these areas.

I've tried tweaking all possible separation and gamut mapping settings in GMG Profile Editor without luck - 255 RED in the colortable allready reads 89M 97Y.
There seems to be flaw with the transformation in the GMG Profile Editor software.

Anyways, after spending way too much time fiddling with GMG Profile Editor I thought I'd give ProfileMaker 5 a go. Unfortunately I'm not used to creating profiles using this software. Do I choose to create a monitor or printer profile, and what about the printer gamut and AdobeRGB1998 target - which is the refererence/measurement?

Can you help?

Best wishes,
Rasmus
Denmark

[TerryWyse]

Are you sure those "reds" are in-gamut for your display? Unless you have one of the newer "wide gamut" displays, you probably won't be able to softproof accurately especially if you're using AdobeRGB and the "full gamut" of the HP z2100....either/both may be beyond the ability of your display to reproduce.

I would start by comparing both AdobeRGB and your GMG soft-proof profile against your monitor's ICC profile and see where things fall...(you'll need a tool such as ColorThink Pro to do this).

Regards,
Terry

[raol]

Cheers Terry,

The display is indeed a wide gamut EIZO ColorEdge CG245W display. If I disable softproofing the reds gain a lot in saturation. I reckon this proofs the display has no problem rendering the colors.

I assume color transformation algorithms used by the different software vendors is different. So trying a different piece of software to create the softproof ICC seems as the logical next step. Do you agree?

Any hints on using ProfileMaker to make the softproof ICC?

Best wishes,
Rasmus

[TerryWyse]

Cheers Terry,

The display is indeed a wide gamut EIZO ColorEdge CG245W display. If I disable softproofing the reds gain a lot in saturation. I reckon this proofs the display has no problem rendering the colors.

Try different soft-proofing options....you'll want to "preserve numbers" of course but also try different combinations of the "simulate black ink" and "paper white" options and see what matches the best.

I assume color transformation algorithms used by the different software vendors is different. So trying a different piece of software to create the softproof ICC seems as the logical next step. Do you agree?

I would say that there's generally less difference among different profiling applications when it comes to the "proofing" side of the profile (A2B or device-to-PCS) than there is in the other direction.

Also, I didn't see any mention of you calibrating/profiling your display. Assuming you are, I would recommend using a spectrophotometer instead of a colorimeter and to also make sure you're building LUT-based display profiles as opposed to matrix-based profiles. If you're using Eizo's Color Navigator software, I believe it can only create matrix profile which might be too "simple" to deliver the accuracy needed for critical soft-proofing.

If you're not calibrating/profiling your display, then accurate soft-proofing is a non-starter.

Any hints on using ProfileMaker to make the softproof ICC?

Nope.

Terry