Color Conversion - Canon ColorPASS-Z5000 Color Manual

B
B-4 Color Management

Color conversion

Before a color document can be printed, the color data in it must be converted to the
gamut of the print device. Whether performed by the ColorPASS or by a host-based
CMS, the process of converting color data for a print device is the same: the CMS
interprets RGB image data according to a specified source profile and adjusts both
RGB and CMYK data according to a specified output profile, also called a destination
profile by some color management systems.
Source Output
profile profile
Device-independent
color space
Input data Printed data or file
The source profile defines the RGB color space of the image's source—characteristics
such as the white point, gamma, and type of phosphors used. The output profile
defines the gamut of the output device. The ColorPASS (or the host-based CMS) uses
a device-independent color space to translate between the source color space and the
color space of the output device.
The ColorPASS allows you to specify default and override settings for the source color
space information and the output profile information (see page 1-1). When you use
these settings, you do not need to use the features of other color management systems.
Your ColorPASS software includes ICC profiles for use with other color management
systems, if you choose to use them, although conflicts may arise when the ColorPASS
CMS is used in conjunction with a host CMS.
Color management systems can also be used to adjust color data to the gamut of a
print device other than the one to which you are printing. This process of simulating
another print device is commonly used for proofing jobs that will print on an offset
press. The ColorPASS simulation feature is described on page 1-8.