Staff Answer
May 12, 2026 - 06:46 PM
ICC profiles are color management files used to improve color accuracy, vibrancy, gradients, black balance, skin tones, and print consistency in ACRORIP. While ACRORIP includes default ICC profiles, many professional users create custom profiles tailored specifically to their printer, inks, film/media, environment, and print settings for significantly better results.
To create a custom ICC profile, you typically need a spectrophotometer/color measurement device (such as an X-Rite i1 or Eye-One device), ICC profiling software, ACRORIP installed, and a printer that is fully operational with perfect nozzle checks. The included ACRORIP ICC Profile Manual references the use of Eye-One Match 3 software and an Eye-One USB device.
Before profiling, make sure:
- Your printer is printing perfectly with no clogged nozzles
- White ink is properly mixed/shaken (for DTF)
- You are using the exact film/media you intend to print on regularly
- Environmental conditions are stable
- You are using your intended production print settings
To begin the profiling process, open the profiling software and configure it for printer profiling mode. The manual specifies using:
- Other (CMYK)
- ECI2002 CMYK i1 Ref.txt
- Gravure Mode
Next, print the required color charts from ACRORIP. According to the manual, you should execute DTFRIP64 from the DTFRIP folder and print the 4-color charts required for profiling.
Once the charts are printed and fully dried, connect the Eye-One USB device and scan the printed color charts in order. The profiling software will analyze the scanned patches and generate a custom ICC profile based on how your printer actually reproduced the colors.
After the ICC profile is created, move the newly generated ICC file into the CMYK folder within your ACRORIP installation directory. The manual specifically states: "Move the newly created ICC Profile to the CMYK folder." In most installations, this is typically something similar to:
C:\DTFRIP\CMYK\To use the ICC profile inside ACRORIP:
- Open ACRORIP
- Go to the Color Menu
- Click the ICC Profile window in the bottom-right section
- Click "Use" to activate ICC color management
- Select your newly created ICC profile
- Click OK
The manual references:
- "Click the icc profile window in the color menu at the bottom right"
- "Click use and activate it"
- "Check the newly created icc profile and click OK"
Once enabled, the ICC profile will automatically be applied during printing. ACRORIP also allows users to conveniently turn ICC profiles on and off as needed for testing or switching between different media types.
For best results, it is recommended to create separate ICC profiles for different:
- Film/media types
- Ink sets
- Print resolutions
- Pass counts
- Print speed modes
Keep in mind that ICC profiles are highly dependent on the exact print conditions used during profiling. Changing media, resolution, print settings, or printing with clogged nozzles can negatively affect color accuracy even when using a good profile.
Common mistakes when working with ICC profiles include:
- Profiling with clogged nozzles
- Using different media than the media profiled
- Changing print settings after profiling
- Applying double color correction in both design software and the RIP
- Using incorrect white ink density settings
- Not allowing prints to fully dry before scanning
Proper ICC profiling can dramatically improve:
- Color vibrancy
- Accuracy
- Consistency
- Repeatability
- Professional output quality
- Customer satisfaction
For serious DTF and professional printing environments, custom ICC profiling is considered one of the most important steps in achieving reliable, high-end color output.
