(v13) ICCBased color space

This page applies to Harlequin v13.1r0 and later; both Harlequin Core and Harlequin MultiRIP.

Page content:

The /ICCBased color space is part of the PDF specification, but not part of the PostScript language. The RIP provides an extension to provide the equivalent color space in the PostScript language:

[/ICCBased <profile>] setcolorspace

where <profile> is a standard PostScript language file object that is expected to refer to an ICC profile. An /ICCBased color space array (CSA) is often used as a value within the setinterceptcolorspace and setreproduction operators. There are many instances in examples throughout this color section.

Simple interception of device color spaces

The next easiest and common, workflow is where the graphic designer has designed a page, (for example), for SWOP, but which may also contain RGB images. This workflow is best handled by passing colors in /DeviceCMYK and /DeviceGray straight through to the SWOP device without modification.

/DeviceRGB objects are treated as though they were painted in an /ICCBased color space. This example configuration, as shown in Figure: Simple interception for conventional press, transforms /DeviceRGB using an sRGB.icc /SWOP.icc profile pair:

<<
/DeviceRGB [ /ICCBased (iccprofiles/sRGB.icc) (r) file ]
>> setinterceptcolorspace
<<
/Profile (iccprofiles/SWOP.icc) (r) file
>> setreproduction

Without color management, device spaces are converted to the output device using the standard device space conversion from [RB3]. In the case of /DeviceRGB, it would be converted to a CMYK device using under color removal and black generation. This is difficult to configure and never produces good color throughout the whole gamut, but can be arranged to produce plausible color for some of the gamut.

Figure: Simple interception for conventional press