Conversion CT / LW

If you work with PDF/X files, you won't need to apply any color conversions as all color spaces are automatically pre-processed according to the output intent of the PDF/X file. Per default, the option PDF X Processing... is activated in the Manual Job Manager and also in Workflows:
 
Make sure that the output intent of the PDF matches the output intent of the Proof Standard. For example, if the output intent of the PDF is "ISOcoated_v2_300_eci.icc", you should use an "ISO Coated v2" proof standard. If you are not sure which output intent ICC profile is linked within a proof standard, just double-click the proof-standard in the Database view and click on the Color Management button on the left side of the configuration dialog.

Conversion CT and LW 

If you have files that do not adhere to such standards and contain elements in different color spaces (e.g. RGB and CMYK), you first have to convert or normalize these before printing a proof. 

The conversion settings can be defined separately for contone (CT) and lineworks (LW) elements.
To convert all contone and lineworks elements to a target color space, you need to specify an ICC input profile, converting the input color data to the LAB color space. The ICC profile you select as Output Intent ICC Profile then converts the color data from the LAB color space to the target color space.

Note: In case you deactivate the PDF/X processing and don't configure any ICC for the input color space, RIP defaults are being used during the PDF RIP process (System > General > Advanced RIP Settings).

Conversion defaults for manual jobs

You can define default conversion rules for manual jobs in the System view > Color Conversion which are automatically used when input files do not match the color space of the selected proof standard:

Step-by-Step: How to convert and normalize your files

1. Create a new job or set up a new workflow (or edit the Properties of an existing job or workflow).
2. Click the Color Management button on the navigation panel on the left of the Manual Job Manager / Workflow Properties dialog box.
3. Click either the Conversion CT or the Conversion LW tab. Generally, you will use the same settings for both CT and LW, that is, setting up Conversion CT is sufficient for most applications.
4. Select the color spaces of the input files for which you want to use the color management. Deselect the color spaces that you want to keep unchanged.
5. Select conversion rules/profiles for each selected input color space.
   If you select either option Use the following profile or Use embedded profile if available, otherwise use the following profile, click the browse button and load the desired color profile.
6. Select the Rendering Intent for each profile. Default is Perceptual.
7. Select an Output Intent ICC Profile for defining the target color space.
   If you want to use different settings for the conversion of LW Elements, click the Conversion LW tab and deselect the option Same Settings as Conversion CT.

Which ICC engine is used for the color conversions?

• For color conversion of files that are not ripped before processing (TIFF, JPEG, etc.), you can select the ICC Engine under System > ICC Defaults.
• For color conversion of files that are ripped (PDF, PS, etc.), the integrated RipServer automatically uses the Adobe® Color Management Module.