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Using color management policies


    When you specify a predefined color management setting, Illustrator sets up a color management workflow that will be used as the standard for all documents and color data that you open or import. For a newly created document, the color workflow operates relatively seamlessly: the document uses the working space profile associated with its color model for creating and editing colors, and the profile is usually embedded in the saved document to provide color translation information for the destination output device.

    However, some existing documents may not use the working space that you have specified, and some existing documents may not be color-managed. It is common to encounter the following exceptions to your color-managed workflow:

    • You might open a document or import color data from a document that has not been color-managed and lacks a profile altogether. This is often the case when you open a document created in an application that either does not support color management or has color management turned off.
    • You might open a document or import color data from a document that contains a color profile different from the current working space. This may be the case when you open a document that has been created using different color management settings, or a document that has been scanned and assigned with a scanner profile.

    In either case, Illustrator must decide how to handle the color data in the document. A color management policy looks for the color profile associated with an opened document or imported color data, and compares the profile (or lack of profile) with the current working space to make default color management decisions. If the profile matches the working space, the colors are automatically brought into the color management workflow that you have specified, using the working space profile. If the profile is missing or does not match the working space, Illustrator displays a message that alerts you to the mismatch situation and, in many cases, lets you specify how to handle the colors in question.

    The following table provides a summary of the policy decisions you may be prompted to consider when opening or importing mismatched color data:

    Mismatch situation

    Policy options that may be available

    Opening non-color-managed document without color profile

    • Use working space for editing but not saving; do not color-manage document.
    • Use working space for editing, and save working space with document.
    • Use another color profile for editing, and save profile with document.

    Opening document with color profile that does not match working space

    • Use profile (instead of working space) for editing, and save profile with document.
    • Convert colors to working space, and save working space with document.
    • Discard profile, and do not color-manage document.

    Importing color data into destination document

    • Import and convert numeric values of source colors to color space of destination document in order to preserve color appearances.
    • Import and preserve numeric values of source colors.

    The predefined color management workflows are set to display warning or option messages when a default color management policy is about to be implemented. Although you can disable the repeated display of some of the messages, it is highly recommended that you continue to display all policy messages, to ensure the appropriate color management of documents on a case-by-case basis. You should only turn off message displays if you are very confident that you understand the default policy decision and are willing to accept it for all documents that you open. You cannot undo the results of a default policy decision once a document has been saved.

To turn off the display of a policy message:

    In the message dialog box, select the Don't Show Again option if it is available.

To reset the display of policy messages that have been disabled:

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows and Mac OS 9) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac OS X).
  2. Click Reset All Warning Dialogs, and click OK.