How to Install an ICC Profile
Calibrating a printer, scanner, or monitor properly ensures what you see on the screen is what the print looks like, and that the colors on the monitor are accurately represented on paper. An ICC profile helps with calibration. ICC profiles are a set of standards created by the International Color Consortium and are commonly used in color management. Each file is specific to a certain device and provides a way to ensure consistent color.
Installing an ICC profile is simple. Finding the correct ICC profile is difficult (more on that below). After you download an ICC profile, install it in the right place. Here’s how to do it on Windows and Mac:
Extract the ICC profile from the . ZIP file you downloaded and save it in a place you can easily access. On a Windows computer, right-click the extracted file and choose Install Profile. This automatically saves it in the correct location. On a Mac, manually copy and paste the extracted ICC profile into the correct folder. Go to ~/Library/Colorsync/Profiles and drop it in. The folder might be hidden by default. Check out our guide on viewing hidden folders on macOS if you need help.
Where to Find ICC Profiles
Getting the right combination of ink plus paper plus printer settings is easier with the help of companies like Ilford and Hammermill (manufacturers of photo paper). These companies host an array of printer profiles on their official websites. You can generally find ICC profiles and other helpful things under the Support section.
Canon lists ICC profiles for compatible third-party printers on its website along with an art paper printing guide. Brother uses Windows ICM printer profiles. Meanwhile, TFT Central offers an ICC profiles and monitor settings database that seems to be updated regularly.
