Resources
SOFT PROOFING
click here to download Pure Art’s Soft Proof Profiles
We provide an ICC profile for you to use when soft-proofing your images before submitting them for a print order.
This ICC profile is meant only for viewing. Do not embed the profile in your images.
The files should only either have sRGB or Adobe RGB embedded. sRGB is preferred for photo paper prints, while Adobe RGB is preferred for giclée, metal, and press printed items.
This profile should only be used in conjunction with a regularly-calibrated monitor. Otherwise, there is no objective standard for comparison between monitor output and print output.
About Soft Proofing
Soft proofing lets you temporarily simulate how an image will appear on another device, such as a printer, by using only a computer monitor. Soft proofing shows what happens when the image’s color space is converted into the printer’s color space — and is identical to how a color-managed image is converted when it is sent to print. This can be a very helpful tool for making more predictable prints. The image file itself remains unaltered, and the pixel values of the image are unchanged. Any out-of-gamut colors will be shown compressed into the printer’s (typically) narrower color gamut.
Installing the ICC Profile
- Mac OS 10.7 and later: click here to download Pure Art’s Soft Proof Profiles, then move the file to the following location:
- Macintosh HD\Library\ColorSync\Profiles
- Your main hard drive may be under a different name like System instead of Macintosh HD
- Windows: click here to download Pure Art’s Soft Proof Profiles
- , right-click the file, then select Install Profile
To set up profile in Photoshop:
- View menu > Proof Setup > Custom > Locate PURE ART METAL SOFT PROOF from the list of profiles
Photoshop Settings (PS version 7+):
- Preserve color numbers/RGB numbers – uncheck
- Render intent – perceptual
- Black pt. compensation – check
- Simulate black ink/white paper – uncheck
Once you have selected these options, click the “Save Button” and name the profile Pure Art Metal.psf
Once the profile is saved, then click “OK” in the original “Customize Poof Condition” screen
This will now allow you to toggle Bay Photo’s ICC profile in View > Proof Setup. Once you have toggled “Proof Setup,” please toggle go back to View and toggle “Gamut Warning” to make sure the colors in your file are within our printing gamut.
To set up profile in Lightroom (LR version 4+):
- In Develop module, check the Soft Proof box towards the bottom
- For the Profile setting, select Other >
- select Pure Art Metal
- Render Intent – Perceptual
- Simulate Ink & Paper – uncheck
Use Proof Colors setting under the View menu in Photoshop to switch back and forth between the viewing profile constraining the embedded color space, and the embedded space by itself.
In Lightroom, check and uncheck the Soft Proof box to toggle the profile off and on.
When the profile is applied to most images, there will be a subtle shift, but if the image contains tones that are out of gamut, those areas will shift more noticeably.
What is a Metal Print?
What is a Metallic Print?
Is my finished metal print ready to hang?
What size should I print and still maintain a good quality image?
We recommend using the highest quality image setting on your digital camera. Find out what your off the camera size is at 300 dpi, that is your optimal size. BUT we are very experienced in enlarging photographs to 200-300% its native size. Just select the size you want and will let you know if your file can’t do that size.
How long will it take to receive my photograph?
What is the biggest file I can upload on this site?
Will you retouch my image?
How will my order be shipped?
Any special instructions for our files before we submit?
Please do not increase dpi to 300dpi if the file was not create at that size to begin with, this will create a “false” dpi and won’t look any better than if you had kept at it’s native dpi setting.
Make sure your image is RGB and in the Adobe RGB 1998 work space. (Adobe Photoshop: go to Image/Mode)
Then when you save your tiff or jpeg check the box that asks to “embed profile”.