A softproof requires a calibrated monitor; otherwise, you will not get a satisfactory result. Information about a Guide for a calibrated monitor, as well as hardware manufacturerswe have compiled for you in this guide.
Application of a softproof in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom:
Adobe Photoshop:
Open your image
Start Adobe Photoshop and open the image you want to softproof.
Select ICC profile: go to "Edit" > "Color Settings" and select the ICC profile that matches the output device on which the image is to be printed. This ICC profile should be the color profile of the printer or the printing material. Never embed this profile in your file (when saving), use sRGB or AdobeRGB!
Activate softproofing
Go to "View" > "Soft Proof" or use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Y" (Windows) or "Cmd + Y" (Mac) to activate softproofing. The image will now be displayed with color adjustments based on the selected ICC profile.
Make adjustments
Carefully check the image and make adjustments if necessary to ensure it looks correct on the printed medium. For example, you can adjust brightness, contrast, or color saturation.
Preview the final result
Toggle softproofing on and off to get a direct comparison between the original image and the softproof. Check if the image meets your expectations after the adjustments.
Save
Once you are satisfied with the result, you can save the image.
Important
Make sure you have selected the correct ICC profile for printing to ensure accurate color reproduction.
Lightroom:
Import your image
Open Lightroom and import the image you want to softproof into your library.
Develop module
Switch to the Develop module by clicking on the "Develop" button.
Select ICC profile
Go to "File" > "Export" and select the desired ICC profile under "Color Management". Make sure the option "Include Soft Proof" is enabled.
Make adjustments
Make adjustments to your image to ensure it is correctly reproduced on the printed medium. Use the various tools and sliders in the Develop module for this purpose.
Preview the final result
Check the image with softproof enabled to see how it will look on the printed medium. Compare it with the original image to ensure that the adjustments meet your expectations.
Export
Save the image once you are satisfied with the result, and use the correct ICC profile for printing to ensure accurate color reproduction.
The same applies in Lightroom
DO NOT embed the printer profile, but use sRGB or AdobeRGB!
Conclusion
Softproofing is an indispensable step for precise color reproduction, especially in printing. Whether in Photoshop or Lightroom – with the right ICC profiles and a calibrated monitor, you can already see how your image will look on the desired medium before printing.
