The ICM 2.0 system is based of ICC profile files that are installed in Windows using an API call. Once the profiles are installed they can be listed, applied to devices (e.g. the display) to automatically correct the colors or used to convert images or colors from one color profile to another one.

Fred4 uses the color profiles for two different purposes:

•To adapt the colors to the particular kind of monitor being used.

•To adapt the colors to the output device when printing.

Adapting colors for monitor

The display adaptation is performed in two stages:

1.All the colors are converted to the sRGB standard color profile (see www.srgb.com)

2.All the colors are converted to the monitor-specific color profile.

This two-step process simplify the handling of images: external subsystem can generate sRGB preview that can be displayed directly, instead of having to generate monitor-specific previews.

Adapting colors for printing

The adaptation at print time is performed in a single step - usually the colors and the images will be already adapted to the final output device, so no processing will be needed.