If a print buyer works with differnt photographers, agencies, pre-press shops and printers, it is necessary to agree on and control the usage of standards in the production chain. Using the same standards by the companies involved results in:
- similar separation of RGB images at different places
- similar softproof (on the side of the print buyer and all other companies)
- similar contracts proofs
- similar print results
During the pre-press work the most important tool for standardization is the usage of the correct color-profiles. The basis for these profiles are characterization-data representing the agreed standards and specifications for the print production.
The official global overview for all characterization-data used in the standardized print production is available from the International Color Consortium ICC.
Based on the characterization-data some organizations or companies like e.g ECI, SWOP, GRACoL or Adobe are deliviring ICC-Profiles.