Soft Proofing for PermaJet Papers: How to Match Your Screen to Your Prints

Ever printed a photo only to find it looks nothing like what you saw on your screen? Maybe the colours are off, the contrast looks wrong, or the details just don’t pop the way they did digitally. This is where soft proofing comes in—a technique that helps photographers get predictable and accurate results when printing.

If you’re using PermaJet papers (which I highly recommend!), soft proofing can ensure your final print matches your vision. It’s all about colour accuracy, contrast management, and making informed tweaks before you hit the print button. Plus, as a PermaJet affiliate, I can offer you a 10% discount on all PermaJet paper when you use the code CHRISH10 at checkout.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps of using PermaJet ICC profiles to ensure your prints look just as good as they do on your screen. I’ll also include links to some of the best PermaJet papers you can use for different types of prints.

What is Soft Proofing and Why Does It Matter?

Soft proofing is the process of simulating how your print will look on paper using your computer screen. It allows you to preview colour shifts, brightness adjustments, and tonal changes before printing.

Monitors display images using RGB light, while printers use CMYK inks. This difference means that some colours visible on your screen might not be accurately reproduced in print. Soft proofing helps you spot these differences in advance so you can make necessary corrections and avoid wasting ink and paper.

Setting Up Soft Proofing for PermaJet Papers

Before you begin, you’ll need:

Step 1: Download and Install PermaJet ICC Profiles

PermaJet provides custom ICC profiles for their papers to help you achieve accurate colour management. You can download them for free from PermaJet’s ICC Profile Page.

Once downloaded, install them by placing the ICC profile files into the correct location on your computer:

Restart Photoshop or Lightroom to ensure they recognize the newly installed profiles.

Step 2: Calibrate Your Monitor

If your screen isn’t calibrated, soft proofing won’t be accurate. Using a hardware calibration tool like the X-Rite i1 Display Pro or Datacolor SpyderX ensures your monitor displays colours correctly. A properly calibrated monitor will help you make accurate adjustments before printing.

Step 3: Enable Soft Proofing in Photoshop

  1. Open your image in Adobe Photoshop.
  2. Go to View > Proof Setup > Custom.
  3. In the Device to Simulate dropdown, select the PermaJet ICC profile for your paper.
  4. Enable Simulate Paper Color and Simulate Black Ink to get a more accurate preview.
  5. Click OK.

You will now see a preview of how your image will look when printed on the selected PermaJet paper.

Step 4: Adjust Your Image for Printing

Once soft proofing is enabled, you may notice subtle changes in your image. If certain colours look dull or washed out, you can make non-destructive edits to fix them.

Step 5: Print Using the Correct ICC Profile

When you’re ready to print:

  1. Go to File > Print in Photoshop.
  2. Under Color Handling, select Photoshop Manages Colors.
  3. Choose the same PermaJet ICC profile you used in soft proofing.
  4. Set your printer to No Color Management (this prevents double profiling issues).
  5. Click Print and enjoy your perfectly matched PermaJet print!

Best PermaJet Papers for Different Types of Prints

For High-Impact, Glossy Prints

For Fine Art and Archival Prints

For Rich Baryta Finishes

For Portfolios and Special Projects

Exclusive PermaJet Discount Code

If you want to try any of these fantastic PermaJet papers, don’t forget to use my affiliate discount code CHRISH10 to get 10% off your order at checkout.

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