A practical guide to sRGB, PSO Coated v3, PSO Uncoated v3 and US SWOP.
Color profiles tell printers and software how colors should be interpreted. Choosing the right profile helps your print result match the intended workflow.
sRGB is the safest and most common color profile for digital images. It is used for photos, screens, web graphics, social media and many general print workflows.
In Convert2Print, Photo mode always uses sRGB automatically.
For Illustration mode, sRGB is recommended when you want a simple and flexible print-ready export.
PSO Coated v3 is a CMYK profile for coated paper. Coated paper has a smooth surface and usually produces stronger colors and sharper detail.
Use PSO Coated v3 for:
If your print provider asks for PSO Coated v3 or FOGRA51, choose this profile.
PSO Uncoated v3 is a CMYK profile for uncoated paper. Uncoated paper absorbs more ink, so colors often look softer and less saturated than on coated paper.
Use PSO Uncoated v3 for:
If your print provider asks for PSO Uncoated v3 or FOGRA52, choose this profile.
US SWOP is a CMYK print profile mainly used in North American print workflows. It is typically used for commercial offset printing and some publication workflows in the United States.
Use US SWOP only if your printer specifically asks for it. If you are printing in Europe, PSO Coated v3 or PSO Uncoated v3 is usually the better choice.
If your printer gives you a specific color profile, always follow the printer’s instructions.
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