How to Soft Proof Your Photos in Photoshop & Lightroom:

Soft proofing is the process of simulating how a digital image will look when printed on a specific output device and paper type, in order to identify and correct any potential color and tonal issues before printing. Soft proofing can be done in Adobe Photoshop, and here's how and why you might want to do it:

How to Soft Proof Your Photos in Photoshop:

1. Open the image you want to soft proof in Photoshop.
2. Go to the View menu and select "Proof Setup" and then "Custom".
3. In the "Customize Proof Condition" window, select the ICC profile for the output device and paper type you plan to use for printing.
4. Check the "Simulate Paper Color" box if you want to preview the paper color effect on the image.
5. Click "OK" to apply the changes.
6. Go to the View menu and select "Proof Colors" to enable the soft proofing display mode.
7. Adjust the image as necessary to correct any color or tonal issues.

How to Soft Proof Your Photos in Lightroom:

1. Open the image you want to soft proof in the Develop module.
2. Click on the Soft Proofing button at the bottom of the right-hand panel.
3. In the Soft Proofing panel that appears, select the ICC profile for the output device and paper type you plan to use for printing.
4. Check the "Simulate Paper and Ink" box to preview the paper color and ink saturation effects on the image.
5. Adjust the image as necessary to correct any color or tonal issues.
6. Press the "Reset" button to turn off the soft proofing display mode.

Why to Soft Proof Your Photos:

Soft proofing is an important step in the printing workflow because it allows you to preview how the printed image will look and make adjustments before printing. By simulating the color and tonal characteristics of the output device and paper type, you can identify any potential issues with the image, such as color casts or loss of detail, and correct them before printing. This can save time, money, and materials, as well as ensure that the final printed image matches your creative vision. Soft proofing is especially important when printing fine art or high-quality photographic prints, where color accuracy and tonal range are crucial.

To access and download the ICC profiles we use at Print Partner visit our icc profile page .