Quantitative Analysis of ICC Profile Quality for Scanners

ICC profiling software is widely used in the graphic arts industry. The quality of a scanner profile created by profiling software using a single training target is discussed. A more stringent quantitative analysis of the profile quality is proposed. Different targets from different photo paper manufactures are used as the testing targets to compare the quality of the profiles. A grayscale was also used for testing the ability of profiling software to preserve gray balance. The results show that profiling software can generate apparently high quality profile for the training targets. However, the profile of one target assigned to the scan of other targets, used as originals, does not confirm this accuracy. Additionally, the RMS ?E values of grayscale assigned profiles are higher than the RMS ?E values of scanned targets assigned the same profile.