Adobe ILLUSTRATOR CS2 User Manual page 208

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. (See "Do you need color management?" on page 199.)
For more information on common color management workflows, see the Color Workflow Guide on your application
CD.
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. (See "To calibrate and profile your monitor" on
page 213.)
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. (See "About color profiles" on page 211 and "To install a color profile" on page 213.)
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. (See "To synchronize color
settings across Adobe applications" on page 202.)
•
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. (See "To set up color management for Illustrator, InDesign, and
Photoshop" on page 202 or "To set up color management for GoLive" on page 202.)
5. (Optional) Preview colors using a soft proof.
After you create a document, you can use a soft proof to preview how colors will look when printed or viewed on a
specific device. (See "Soft-proofing colors" on page 207.)
Note: A soft proof alone doesn't let you preview how overprinting will look when printed on an offset press. If you 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. (See "Printing with color management" on page 209 and "Color-managing documents for online
viewing" on page 206.)
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS2 201
User Guide