Working CMYK

Creates a soft proof of colors using the current CMYK working space as defined in the Color Settings dialog box.

Document CMYK (InDesign)

Creates a soft proof of colors using the document’s CMYK profile.

Working Cyan Plate, Working Magenta Plate, Working Yellow Plate, Working Black Plate, or Working CMY Plates (Photoshop)

Creates a soft proof of specific CMYK ink colors using the current CMYK working space.

Macintosh RGB or Windows RGB (Photoshop and Illustrator)

Creates a soft proof of colors in an image using either a standard Mac OS or Windows monitor as the proof profile space to simulate. Both options assume that the simulated device will display your document without using color management. Neither option is available for Lab or CMYK documents.

Monitor RGB (Photoshop and Illustrator)

Creates a soft proof of colors in an RGB document using your current monitor color space as the proof profile space. This option assumes that the simulated device will display your document without using color management. This option is unavailable for Lab and CMYK documents.

Color Blindness (Photoshop and Illustrator)

Creates a soft proof that reflects colors visible to a person with color blindness. The two soft proof options, Protanopia and Deuteranopia, approximate color perception for the most common forms of color blindness. For more information, see Soft-proof for color blindness (Photoshop and Illustrator).

Device To Simulate

Specifies the color profile of the device for which you want to create the proof. The usefulness of the chosen profile depends on how accurately it describes the device’s behavior. Often, custom profiles for specific paper and printer combinations create the most accurate soft proof.

Preserve CMYK Numbers or Preserve RGB Numbers

Simulates how the colors will appear without being converted to the color space of the output device. This option is most useful when you are following a safe CMYK workflow.

Rendering Intent (Photoshop and Illustrator)

When the Preserve Numbers option is deselected, specifies a rendering intent for converting colors to the device you are trying to simulate.

Use Black Point Compensation (Photoshop)

Ensures that the shadow detail in the image is preserved by simulating the full dynamic range of the output device. Select this option if you plan to use black point compensation when printing (which is recommended in most situations).

Simulate Paper Color

Simulates the dingy white of real paper, according to the proof profile. Not all profiles support this option.

Simulate Black Ink

Simulates the dark gray you really get instead of a solid black on many printers, according to the proof profile. Not all profiles support this option.

In Photoshop, if you want the custom proof setup to be the default proof setup for documents, close all document windows before choosing the View > Proof Setup > Custom command.

Color Universal Design (CUD) ensures that graphical information is conveyed accurately to people with various types of color vision, including people with color blindness. Several countries have guidelines that require CUD-compliant graphics in public spaces.

The most common types of color blindness are protanopia (reduced sensitivity to red) and deuteranopia (reduced sensitivity to green). A third of color blind people are affected strongly; the remainder have milder forms of color blindness.

Adjusting design for color blindness

A.

Original image

B.

Color-blind proof

C.

Optimized design

To determine whether a document is CUD-compliant, do the following:

In Photoshop, you can print the proof. For more information, search for “Print a hard proof” in Photoshop Help.

If objects are difficult to distinguish in color blind proofs, adjust the design by doing any of the following:

• Change color brightness or hue:

  • Pure red tends to appear dark and muddy; orange-red is easier to recognize.

  • Bluish green is less confusing than yellowish green.

  • Gray may be confused with magenta, pale pink, pale green, or emerald green.

  • Avoid the following combinations: red and green; yellow and bright green; light blue and pink; dark blue and violet.

  • Avoid red items on dark-colored backgrounds, or white items on yellow or orange-red backgrounds.

• Apply different patterns or shapes.

• Add white, black, or dark-colored borders on color boundaries.

• Use different font families or styles.