Using the Dry Creek profile instructions has me somewhat confused. Here are the points from the Dry Creek instructions that I have issues with. Any help understanding my problems would be appreciated:
8. Simulation options:
* It is easiest to perform any major color and tonal adjustments without Simulate Paper Color (Photoshop CS2) or Paper White (Photoshop 6.0 through CS) or Ink Black checked.
Why? You would think that you want to see exactly how you are changing the image as it will look printed.
16. Finally, convert the image to the appropriate profile, using your chosen rendering intent. In Photoshop
CS2 the command is Edit->Convert to Profile. Earlier Photoshop versions use Image->Mode->Convert to Profile. Frontier and Noritsu printers do not read embedded profiles, so the image data must be converted. This changes the data in the file to compensate for how your lab's machine actually prints colors.
This sounds, in practice, like a contradiction. When I use "convert to profile" and then try to reopen the image, Adobe gives me the message that "The document xxx has an embedded color profile that does not match. . . ." I've tried "assigning" the profile also, but adobe CS2 still reports that the profile is embedded.
But then later on perhaps we have a solution:
17. Do not embed the profile in the saved file. Frontier, Noritsu, and Agfa printers ignore embedded profiles, so you are only using up disk space. Additionally, many versions of the Fuji Frontier PIC driver crash when given files with profiles embedded. In the File->Save As dialog box, uncheck the "ICC Profile:" box in the Color settings area.
So it seems that we are told to convert to profile, which seemingly embeds it, which the printer cannot use, and then to discard the ICC profile? I don't get it. When I use that exact method, and then reopen the image--sure enough, I DO NOT get the embedded profile message, but the image looks HORRIBLE. Almost the entire image is out of gamut in both RGB1998 and the Noritsu profile.
And by the way, what exactly is the difference between converting and assigning a profile: The Adobe help files are cryptic on this point.
Thanks again.