Soft proofing allows you to temporarily simulate how an image will appear on another device (such as a printer) by using only a computer monitor. This process 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.

We provide a variety of ICC profiles (listed towards the bottom of this article) for you to use when soft proofing your images before submitting them for print orders.

Each ICC Profile is meant only for viewing. Do not embed the profile into your images.
Bay Photo supports files with the sRGB, Adobe1998 RGB and ProPhoto RGB embedded color profiles.
These profiles 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.

Installing the ICC Profiles

Mac OS 10.7 and later: Click on your preferred ICC Profile (linked below) to download, 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 on your preferred ICC Profile (linked below) to download, right-click the file, then select Install Profile

To set up profile in Photoshop:

View > Proof Setup > Custom
Click the dropdown next to Device to Simulate and select the appropriate profile from the list

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.

Once the profile is saved, then click "OK" in the original "Customize Proof 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 the Bay Photo ICC Profile
Render Intent - Perceptual
Simulate Ink & Paper - uncheck

Use Proof Colors setting under the View menu in LIghtroom 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.

Last of all, order some of the complimentary Evaluation Prints through the Bay ROES > Other > Evaluation Prints Catalog to see how accurate your monitor output is compared to the raw print output.

*CMYK profiles are not supported by Adobe Lightroom. All other image editing programs (including Photoshop) will support these profiles.