Playing With ICC Profiles in Capture One

We spend a lot of time ensuring our cameras and our software reproduce accurate, natural colour, but sometimes we should leave this to the men in white lab coats and use our tools simply to create the best result aesthetically. Accurate colour might not look as good as colour that is enhanced.

Outdoor Daylight ICC profile

Take this photo exposed under late evening light at Joffre Falls, Karijini, Western Australia. When processed using the ‘correct’ ICC profile setting in Capture One (Outdoor Daylight), the result is magnificent with the strong colours beautifully reproduced.

Portrait ICC Profile:

Now take a look at the same file with the ICC Profile in Capture One set to Portrait. The Portrait profile for the Phase One P 65+ back has been designed to give reds and yellows a bit of a lift, and these characteristics also work brilliantly well with many landscape photos.

Note how the reds in the Portrait ICC profile have been strengthened compared to the Outdoor Daylight ICC profile and a little more detail added into the shadows!

Depending on your camera, look at both the ICC Profile and Curve settings in the Base Characteristics tool and test various settings – you may be surprised at what works!