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Managing Color With ColorSync


Color Management Systems

Members of the computer and publishing industries have developed color management systems (CMSs) to convert colors from the color space of one device to the color space of another device (for example, from a scanner to a monitor). The components of a color management system include

The goal of these systems is to provide consistent color across peripheral devices and across operating-system platforms. Most CMSs are proprietary, but ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system from Apple Computer, supports the industry-standard color profile specification currently defined by the International Color Consortium (ICC). The ICC publishes the International Color Consortium Profile Format Specification . To obtain a copy of the specification, or to get other information about the ICC, visit the ICC Web site at http://www.color.org .

A color management system gives the user the ability to perform color matching, to see in advance which colors cannot be accurately reproduced on a specific device, to simulate the range of colors of one device on another, and to calibrate peripheral devices using a device profile and a calibration application.


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