Color management is a system for ensuring that colors are consistent across different devices and mediums. In the context of photographic printing, color management is used to ensure that the colors in a photograph are accurately reproduced on the printed page. This involves the use of color profiles and color management software.
A color profile is a set of data that describes the colors that a particular device can produce. Each device, such as a camera, a monitor, or a printer, has its own unique color profile. Color management software can use these profiles to translate colors between devices, so that an image that looks a certain way on one device will look the same way on another device.
When printing a photograph, the color management system will use the color profile of the printer to ensure that the colors in the photograph are accurately reproduced on the printed page. The color management system can also use the color profile of the paper being used to compensate for any color shifts that might occur due to the properties of the paper.
It’s important to note that the final print can also be affected by the type of inks or toner being used, the ambient light in the room, and the calibration of the printer.
A good color management workflow also involves ensuring that the camera is calibrated and the monitor is calibrated and profiled to ensure that the photograph is viewed correctly on the monitor before it is printed.