ICC Profiles: Get Sublimation Colors That Match Reality

Direct Answer:

Install the correct ICC profile for your ink/paper/printer combo, turn off printer color management, soft-proof, and print a test target before production. This locks in consistent color.

Steps

  1. Download and install ICC profile for your ink/paper/printer.
  2. Disable color management in your print driver.
  3. Soft-proof in your design software using the ICC.
  4. Print a swatch target and press it to a sample blank.
  5. Compare under daylight; adjust only once.
  6. Save settings and use them every time.

Color Management Settings

Setting Value
Rendering Perceptual (start)
Black Point Enabled
Intent Test Perceptual vs Relative
Lighting D50/D65 daylight

Risks

  • Double profiling = muddy colors.
  • Guesswork leads to inconsistent output.
  • Wrong lighting = bad decisions.

FAQs

Why are reds brown? Wrong ICC or double profiling.

One ICC for all blanks? No -  metals and fabric render differently.

Sources

Ink/paper vendor ICC notes and Pressing Images testing.