Adobe’scolor management system helps you maintain the appearance of colors as you bring images in from external sources, edit documents and transfer them between Adobe applications, and output your finished compositions. This system is based on conventions developed by the International Color Consortium (ICC), a group responsible for standardizing profile formats and procedures so that consistent and accurate color can be achieved throughout a workflow.
By default, color management is turned on inAdobe applications.If you purchased the AdobeCreativeSuite,color settings are synchronized across applications to provide consistent display for RGB and CMYK colors. This means that colors look the same no matter which application you view them in.

If you decide to change the default settings, easy-to-use presets let you configure Adobe’s color management system to match common output conditions. You can also customize color settings to meet the demands of your particular color workflow.
Keep in mind that the kinds of images you work with and your output requirements influence how you use color management. For example, there are different color-consistency issues for an RGB photo printing workflow, a CMYK commercial printing workflow, a mixed RGB/CMYK digital printing workflow, and an internet publishing workflow.

Basic steps for producing consistent color

1. Consult with your production partners (if you have any) to ensure that all aspects of your color management workflow integrate seamlessly with theirs.
Discuss how the color workflow will be integrated with your workgroups and service providers, how will software and hardware be configured for integration into the color management system, and at what level will color management be implemented.
2. Calibrate and profile your monitor.
A monitor profile is the first profile you should create. Seeing accurate color is essential if you are making creative decisions involving the color you specify in your document.
3. Add color profiles to your system for any input and output devices you plan to use, such as scanners and printers.
The color management system uses profiles to know how a device produces color and what the actual colors in a document are. Device profiles are often installed when a device is added to your system. You can also use third-party software and hardware to create more accurate profiles for specific devices and conditions. If your document will be commercially printed, contact your service provider to determine the profile for the printing device or press condition.
4. Set up color management in Adobe applications.
The default color settings are sufficient for most users. However, you can change the color settings by doing one of the following:
• If you use multiple Adobe applications, use Bridge to choose a standard color management configuration and synchronize color settings across applications before working with documents.
• If you use only one Adobe application, or if you want to customize advanced color management options, you can change color settings for a specific application.
5. (Optional) Preview colors using a soft proof.
Afteryou create adocument, youcan useasoft prooftopreview howcolorswilllookwhenprinted or viewed on a specific device.
Note: Asoftproof alonedoesn’t letyou previewhow overprinting will look when printedonanoffsetpress.Ifyou work with Illustrator or InDesign documents that contain overprinting, turn on Overprint Preview to accurately preview overprints in a soft proof.
6. Use color management when printing and saving files.
Keeping the appearance of colors consistent across all of the devices in your workflow is the goal of color management. Leave color management options enabled when printing documents, saving files, and preparing files for online viewing.

To synchronize color settings across Adobe applications

When you set up color management using Adobe Bridge, color settings are automatically synchronized across applications.
This synchronization ensures that colors look the same in all Adobe Creative Suite applications.
If color settings are not synchronized, a warning message appears at the top of the Color Settings dialog box in every Creative Suite application. Adobe recommends that you synchronize color settings before you work with new or existing documents.
1. Open Bridge.
To open Bridge from another Creative Suite application, choose File > Browse from the application. To open Bridge directly, either choose Adobe Bridge from the Start menu (Windows) or double-click the Adobe Bridge icon (Mac OS).
2. Choose Edit > Creative Suite Color Settings.
3. Select a color setting from the list, and click Apply.
If none of the default settings meet your requirements, select Show Expanded List Of Color Setting Files to view additional settings. To install a custom settings file, such as a file you received from a print service provider, click Show Saved Color Settings Files.

To set up color management for Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop

1. Choose Edit > Color Settings.
2. Select a color setting from the Settings menu, and click OK.
The setting you select determines the color working spaces used by the application, what happens when you open and import files with embedded profiles, and how the color management system converts colors. To view a description of a setting, select the setting and then position the pointer over the setting name. The description appears at the bottom of the dialog box.
In certain situations, such as if your service provider supplies you with a custom output profile, you may need to customize specific options in the Color Settings dialog box. However, customizing is recommended for advanced users only.
Note: If you work with more than one Adobe application, it is highly recommended that you synchronize your color settings across applications.

To change the appearance of CMYK black

In Illustrator and InDesign, pure CMYK black (K=100) appears jet black (or rich black) when viewed on-screen, printed to a non-Postscript desktop printer, or exported to an RGB file format. If you prefer to see the difference between pure black and rich black as it will appear when printed on a commercial press, you can change the Appearance Of Black preferences. These preferences do not change the color values in a document.
1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Appearance Of Black (Windows) or Application name > Preferences > Appearance Of Black (Mac OS).
2. Choose an option for On Screen:
Display All Blacks Accurately Displays pure CMYK black as dark gray. This setting allows you to see the difference between pure black and rich black.
Display All Blacks As Rich Black Displays pure CMYK black as jet black (RGB=000). This setting makes pure black and rich black appear the same on-screen.
3. Choose an option for Printing/Exporting: Output All Blacks Accurately When printing to a non-Postscript desktop printer or exporting to an RGB file format, outputs pure CMYK black as using the color numbers in the document. This setting allows you to see the difference between pure black and rich black.
Output All Blacks As Rich Black When printing to a non-Postscript desktop printer or exporting to an RGB file format, outputs pure CMYK black as jet black (RGB=000). This setting makes pure black and rich black appear the same.