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What Are ICC Profiles?

ICC (International Color Consortium) profiles are standardized files that define how colors should be interpreted and converted between different devices and printing conditions.
Think of ICC profiles as translation dictionaries between different color languages (RGB screen vs CMYK print).

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How ICC Profiles Work

Your Design (RGB colors)
         ↓
ICC Profile (translation rules)
         ↓
Printer Output (CMYK colors)
Each profile contains:
  • Color space definition: What colors can be reproduced
  • Conversion rules: How to map RGB to CMYK
  • Rendering intents: How to handle out-of-gamut colors
  • Black generation: How to create blacks (GCR/UCR)

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Common ICC Profiles

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For Coated Paper (Glossy/Matte)

  • ISO Coated v2 300%
  • FOGRA39
  • US Web Coated (SWOP) v2
  • Japan Color 2001 Coated
  • GRACoL 2006
Region: Europe, Global Standard: ISO 12647-2 Paper: Coated paper (glossy/matte) Ink Limit: 300% TACWhen to use:
  • European printing
  • Standard commercial printing
  • Magazine production
  • High-quality brochures
Color characteristics:
  • Vibrant colors
  • Good color gamut
  • Industry standard
✅ Most recommended - Works 90% of the time

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For Uncoated Paper

  • PSO Uncoated ISO 12647
  • FOGRA29 (Uncoated)
Region: Europe Paper: Uncoated offset paper Ink Limit: 260% TACWhen to use:
  • Letterhead
  • Business forms
  • Books (uncoated paper)
  • Envelopes
Color characteristics:
  • More subdued colors
  • Lower ink limit (paper absorbs more)
  • Natural, organic look

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How to Choose the Right Profile

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Decision Tree

1

1. Ask Your Printer

Best approach: Contact your printer and ask:
  • “What ICC profile do you recommend?”
  • “What’s your standard color profile?”
Most professional printers will specify their preferred profile.
2

2. Check Your Region

If printer doesn’t specify:
  • Europe/Global: ISO Coated v2 300%
  • United States: US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 or GRACoL
  • Asia/Japan: Japan Color 2001
3

3. Consider Paper Type

  • Coated paper (shiny/matte): Use coated profile
  • Uncoated paper (textured/natural): Use uncoated profile
  • Not sure? Coated is most common for marketing materials
4

4. Match Printing Method

  • Offset printing: Standard ICC profiles
  • Digital printing: Ask printer (may have custom profile)
  • Web press: SWOP profiles
  • Sheet-fed: GRACoL or ISO Coated

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Quick Reference Table

Your SituationRecommended Profile
Europe, don’t know paperISO Coated v2 300%
USA, magazine/webUS Web Coated (SWOP) v2
USA, high-end sheetGRACoL 2006
Asia/JapanJapan Color 2001
Books (uncoated paper)PSO Uncoated or FOGRA29
Not sure at allISO Coated v2 300% (safest default)

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Setting ICC Profile in Print for Figma

1

Open Plugin

Select your frame and launch Print for Figma
2

Go to Color Tab

Click the “Color” tab in the plugin interface
3

Enable CMYK Conversion

Check “Convert to CMYK”
4

Select ICC Profile

From dropdown menu, choose your profile:
  • ISO Coated v2 300% (recommended default)
  • Or printer’s specified profile
5

Set Rendering Intent

Usually Relative Colorimetric (default, best for most cases)
6

Export

Profile will be embedded in your PDF

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Custom ICC Profiles

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When You Need Custom Profiles

  • Printer provides their own ICC profile
  • Specialty printing (unusual substrates)
  • Color-critical work requiring exact calibration
  • Print shop has custom press configuration

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How to Upload Custom Profile

Pro Feature: Custom ICC upload requires Pro subscription
1

Get ICC File

Obtain .icc or .icm file from your printer
2

Open Settings

Print for Figma → Color tab → ICC Profile section
3

Click Upload

“Upload Custom ICC Profile” button
4

Select File

Choose your .icc file from your computer
5

Use Profile

Custom profile now appears in dropdown menu

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Understanding Profile Specifications

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TAC (Total Area Coverage)

Definition: Maximum total ink percentage allowed
ProfileTAC LimitReason
ISO Coated v2300%Standard for coated
FOGRA39300%Standard offset
Japan Color350%Japanese standard
PSO Uncoated260%Uncoated absorbs more
US Web Coated300%Standard for web
Exceeding TAC can cause:
  • Wet prints (won’t dry properly)
  • Smearing and offsetting
  • Paper saturation
  • Printer rejection

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Dot Gain

Definition: How much ink spreads when hitting paper
  • Coated paper: Less dot gain (smoother surface)
  • Uncoated paper: More dot gain (absorbs ink)
  • Newsprint: High dot gain (very absorbent)
ICC profiles compensate for expected dot gain in their conversion rules.

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Embedding vs Not Embedding

What it means: ICC profile data is included in the PDF Pros:
  • Ensures consistent color interpretation
  • Printer knows exact color space
  • Professional standard
  • No ambiguity
Cons:
  • Slightly larger file size (+50-100KB)
✅ Always embed for professional printing

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No Embedded Profile

What it means: PDF converted to CMYK but no profile info Pros:
  • Slightly smaller file
Cons:
  • Printer may interpret colors differently
  • Risk of color shifts
  • Not recommended

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Profile Comparison

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Color Gamut Size

Largest to Smallest Color Gamut:

RGB (screen) ─────────┐ Widest
                      │
ISO Coated v2 ────────┤
FOGRA39 ──────────────┤ Similar
GRACoL ───────────────┤
                      │
SWOP ─────────────────┤ Slightly smaller
                      │
Japan Color ──────────┤ Higher TAC
                      │
Uncoated profiles ────┘ Narrowest
All CMYK profiles have narrower gamut than RGB - it’s the nature of print vs screen.

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Testing Your Profile Choice

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Before Full Production

1

Export Test File

Create small test with various colors
2

Review on Calibrated Monitor

Use monitor with color calibration if available
3

Order Physical Proof

$10-50 investment to see actual printed colors
4

Compare

Compare proof to screen expectations
5

Adjust if Needed

  • Try different profile
  • Adjust source colors
  • Use spot colors for critical hues

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Common Profile Mistakes

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Mistake #1: Wrong Region Profile

Problem: Using US profile for European printer (or vice versa) Result: Color shifts, printer confusion Fix: Always check with printer or match your region

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Mistake #2: Coated vs Uncoated Mismatch

Problem: Using coated profile for uncoated paper Result: Colors too dark/muddy (ink absorption not accounted for) Fix: Match profile to actual paper type

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Mistake #3: Not Embedding Profile

Problem: Converting to CMYK but not embedding profile Result: Unpredictable color interpretation Fix: Always embed ICC profile in PDF

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Mistake #4: Random Profile Selection

Problem: Picking profile without understanding or asking printer Result: May not match printer’s calibration Fix: Ask printer first, or use ISO Coated v2 as safe default

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Advanced: Creating Custom Profiles

For advanced users or print shops:

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When to Create Custom Profile

  • You have calibrated spectrophotometer
  • Custom press setup
  • Unique paper/ink combination
  • Need exact color matching

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Tools Required

  • Spectrophotometer (X-Rite, etc.)
  • Color management software
  • Test charts
  • Knowledge of color science
Most users don’t need custom profiles. Standard profiles work excellently for 99% of projects.

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Profile Conversion Quality

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Factors Affecting Quality

FactorImpactControl
Profile accuracyHighChoose reputable profile
Rendering intentMediumSelect appropriate intent
Source colorsHighDesign CMYK-friendly
Black generationMediumTrust profile settings

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Troubleshooting Profile Issues

Causes:
  • RGB colors out of CMYK gamut
  • Using uncoated profile with coated paper
Solutions:
  • Design with CMYK-friendly colors
  • Verify correct profile for paper type
  • Consider spot colors for vibrant hues
Causes:
  • Profile doesn’t match their press
  • Regional mismatch
Solutions:
  • Ask for their preferred profile
  • Re-export with correct profile
  • Upload their custom profile (Pro feature)
Causes:
  • Viewer not reading embedded profile
  • Monitor not calibrated
Solutions:
  • Use Adobe Acrobat for accurate preview
  • Request physical proof
  • Remember: screen can’t perfectly show CMYK

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Quick Reference

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Top 3 Profiles (Cover 90% of Cases)

  1. ISO Coated v2 300% - Default choice, works almost everywhere
  2. US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 - US printing, magazines
  3. PSO Uncoated - Uncoated paper, stationery

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Profile Selection Cheatsheet

┌─ Printing in Europe? ─→ ISO Coated v2 300%
│
├─ Printing in USA? ─→ SWOP v2 or GRACoL
│
├─ Printing in Asia? ─→ Japan Color 2001
│
├─ Uncoated paper? ─→ PSO Uncoated or FOGRA29
│
└─ Not sure? ─→ ISO Coated v2 300% (safest)

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Learn More

Color Management Overview

Understand color management basics

RGB vs CMYK

Deep dive into color models

Troubleshooting Colors

Fix common color problems

ICC Profiles Table

Complete profile specifications
Pro Tip: When in doubt, use ISO Coated v2 300% and ask your printer. They can always specify if they need something different!