ICC Profiles Reference

Complete reference of standard ICC color profiles for print

ICC Profile Quick Reference

This comprehensive table helps you choose the right ICC profile for your print project based on region, paper type, and printing method.

Most common: ISO Coated v2 300% (Europe/International, coated paper) and GRACoL 2006 (USA, coated paper) cover 80% of commercial print jobs.

Standard ICC Profiles Table

Coated Paper Profiles

For glossy, matte coated, or silk paper stocks

Profile Name	Region	TAC	Paper Type	Printing Method	Use When
ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)	Europe, International	330%	Coated glossy/matte	Offset	Most European print shops, international standard
ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)	Europe	330%	Coated	Sheet-fed offset	High-quality commercial printing in Europe
PSO Coated v3 (FOGRA51)	Europe	300%	Coated	Modern offset	Updated European standard (2014), premium printing
GRACoL 2006 (Coated v2)	USA, Canada	300%	Coated	Sheet-fed offset	US commercial printing standard
SWOP 2006 (Coated v3)	USA	300%	Coated	Web offset	US publication printing (magazines, catalogs)
Japan Color 2001 Coated	Japan, Asia	350%	Coated	Offset	Japanese printing standard
Coated GRACoL 2006	USA	300%	Coated	Sheet-fed	US high-quality commercial work

Uncoated Paper Profiles

For natural, uncoated, textured paper stocks

Profile Name	Region	TAC	Paper Type	Printing Method	Use When
PSO Uncoated v3 (FOGRA52)	Europe	260%	Uncoated	Offset	European uncoated paper standard
ISO Uncoated (FOGRA47)	Europe	300%	Uncoated	Offset	Older European uncoated standard
GRACoL 2006 Uncoated	USA	260%	Uncoated	Sheet-fed offset	US uncoated paper printing
SWOP 2006 Grade 3	USA	260%	Uncoated	Web offset	US newsprint and lower-grade paper

Newsprint Profiles

For newspaper printing

Profile Name	Region	TAC	Paper Type	Printing Method	Use When
ISOnewspaper26v4 (FOGRA30)	Europe	240%	Newsprint	Coldset web offset	European newspaper printing
SWOP 2006 Grade 5	USA	240%	Newsprint	Web offset	US newspaper printing
SC Paper (FOGRA30)	International	240%	Newsprint	Web offset	Standard newsprint profile

Digital Press Profiles

For digital/toner-based printing

Profile Name	Region	TAC	Paper Type	Printing Method	Use When
Fogra39	Europe	330%	Coated	Digital press	European digital printing
GRACoL 2006	USA	300%	Coated	Digital press	US digital printing on coated stock
ISO Coated v2 (ECI)	International	330%	Coated	Digital	Digital presses matching offset standards

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Detailed Profile Specifications

ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)

ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)

Most widely used international profile

Full specifications:

• Official name: ISO Coated v2 (ECI)
• FOGRA reference: FOGRA39
• Total Area Coverage (TAC): 330%
• Black generation: Medium GCR
• Paper type: Glossy or matte coated
• Paper whiteness: Type 1 or 2 paper
• Printing method: Sheet-fed offset
• Ink standard: ISO 12647-2:2004

Color characteristics:

• Gamut: Wide (good color reproduction)
• Black point: L* 16
• Paper white: L* 95, a* 0, b* -2

When to use:

• ✓ European print shops (most common)
• ✓ International projects
• ✓ Coated paper stocks
• ✓ High-quality commercial printing
• ✓ Brochures, business cards, flyers
• ✓ Don’t know printer’s spec (safe default)

Best for: 80% of commercial print in Europe and international markets

Alternatives:

• Newer standard: PSO Coated v3 (FOGRA51) - updated 2014
• USA equivalent: GRACoL 2006 Coated

GRACoL 2006 (USA)

GRACoL 2006 Coated v2

US commercial printing standard

Full specifications:

• Official name: GRACoL 2006 Coated
• Developed by: IDEAlliance (USA)
• Total Area Coverage (TAC): 300%
• Black generation: Medium GCR
• Paper type: Coated (#1, #2 grade)
• Printing method: Sheet-fed offset
• Ink standard: ISO 12647-2

Color characteristics:

• Gamut: Wide (similar to ISO Coated)
• Black point: L* 16
• Paper white: L* 95, a* 0, b* -2
• Tone reproduction: G7 calibration method

When to use:

• ✓ USA-based printers
• ✓ North American print shops
• ✓ Coated paper stocks
• ✓ Commercial printing
• ✓ Corporate materials
• ✓ Marketing collateral

Best for: US commercial printing standard

Difference from ISO Coated:

• Lower TAC (300% vs 330%)
• Slightly different GCR curve
• G7 calibration methodology
• Results very similar in practice

Alternatives:

• Europe: ISO Coated v2 300%
• Web printing: SWOP 2006

SWOP 2006

SWOP 2006 Coated v3

US publication and web printing

Full specifications:

• Official name: SWOP 2006 Coated Grade 3
• Stands for: Specifications for Web Offset Publications
• Total Area Coverage (TAC): 300%
• Black generation: Medium to Heavy GCR
• Paper type: Coated (#3 grade)
• Printing method: Web offset (roll-fed)
• Ink standard: ISO 12647-2

Color characteristics:

• Gamut: Moderate (narrower than GRACoL)
• Black point: L* 18-20
• Paper white: L* 92-94 (slightly yellower)
• Optimized for: High-speed web presses

When to use:

• ✓ Magazine printing
• ✓ Catalog printing
• ✓ Large-run publications
• ✓ Web offset presses
• ✓ Lower-grade coated paper

Best for: US publications (magazines, catalogs)

Not ideal for:

• ✗ High-end commercial work (use GRACoL instead)
• ✗ Business cards (too much GCR)
• ✗ European printing

Alternatives:

• Sheet-fed: GRACoL 2006
• Europe: ISO Coated v2 300%

PSO Coated v3 (FOGRA51)

PSO Coated v3 (FOGRA51)

Modern European standard (2014)

Full specifications:

• Official name: PSO Coated v3
• FOGRA reference: FOGRA51
• Total Area Coverage (TAC): 300%
• Black generation: Medium GCR
• Paper type: Premium coated (Type 1)
• Printing method: Sheet-fed offset
• Ink standard: ISO 12647-2:2013 (updated)

Color characteristics:

• Gamut: Slightly wider than FOGRA39
• Black point: L* 16
• Paper white: L* 95.3, a* -0.5, b* -3.3 (brighter)
• Improved: Cyan and blue reproduction

When to use:

• ✓ Modern European printing
• ✓ Premium quality projects
• ✓ Printers with updated equipment
• ✓ When printer specifies FOGRA51

Advantages over FOGRA39:

• Lower TAC (300% vs 330%) = faster drying
• Better cyan/blue colors
• Updated to modern inks/papers

Adoption status:

• Growing: More printers adopting
• FOGRA39 still dominant: Still more common globally
• Check with printer: Before using

Alternatives:

• Older standard: ISO Coated v2 (FOGRA39) - more compatible
• USA: GRACoL 2006

PSO Uncoated v3 (FOGRA52)

PSO Uncoated v3 (FOGRA52)

European uncoated paper standard

Full specifications:

• Official name: PSO Uncoated v3
• FOGRA reference: FOGRA52
• Total Area Coverage (TAC): 260%
• Black generation: Heavy GCR
• Paper type: Uncoated white offset
• Printing method: Sheet-fed offset
• Ink standard: ISO 12647-2:2013

Color characteristics:

• Gamut: Narrower (uncoated paper limits)
• Black point: L* 20
• Paper white: L* 93, a* 0, b* 3 (warmer/yellower)
• Color saturation: Lower than coated

When to use:

• ✓ Natural/uncoated paper
• ✓ Letterpress printing
• ✓ Textured stocks
• ✓ “Earthy” aesthetic
• ✓ Books with uncoated pages

Characteristics:

• Duller colors (ink absorbs into paper)
• Lower TAC (paper can’t handle as much ink)
• Heavy GCR (to prevent muddiness)
• Warmer overall appearance

Not for:

• ✗ Vibrant color needs
• ✗ Photo-heavy projects
• ✗ Coated paper (use coated profile)

Alternatives:

• USA uncoated: GRACoL Uncoated
• Older standard: ISO Uncoated (FOGRA47)

Japan Color 2001

Japan Color 2001 Coated

Japanese printing standard

Full specifications:

• Official name: Japan Color 2001 Coated
• Developed by: Japan Print Machinery Association
• Total Area Coverage (TAC): 350%
• Black generation: Light to Medium GCR
• Paper type: Coated art paper
• Printing method: Sheet-fed offset
• Ink standard: JIS standards

Color characteristics:

• Gamut: Very wide (highest TAC)
• Black point: L* 15-16
• Paper white: L* 95+, slightly cooler
• Richer blacks: Higher ink coverage allowed

When to use:

• ✓ Printing in Japan
• ✓ Asian markets
• ✓ Japanese print shops
• ✓ When printer specifies

Characteristics:

• Higher TAC than Western standards
• Different ink formulations
• Richer, denser colors
• Longer drying time (higher TAC)

Use only if:

• Printer specifically requests
• Printing in Japan/Asia
• Otherwise use ISO or GRACoL

Alternatives:

• International: ISO Coated v2 300%
• USA: GRACoL 2006

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Choosing the Right Profile

Decision Tree

1. Ask Your Printer

   Always ask first:

   “What ICC profile do you recommend for this project?”

   Professional printers will specify:

   • Exact profile name
   • Or provide custom profile

   If they specify: Use that (always)

2. If Printer Doesn't Specify

   Use this decision tree:

   1. What region?

   • Europe/International → ISO Coated v2 300%
   • USA/Canada → GRACoL 2006
   • Japan/Asia → Japan Color 2001
   • Australia → ISO Coated v2 300%

   2. What paper type?

   • Glossy/Matte coated → Coated profile
   • Natural/Uncoated → Uncoated profile
   • Newsprint → Newsprint profile

   3. What printing method?

   • Sheet-fed offset → Standard coated/uncoated
   • Web offset (magazines) → SWOP (USA) or ISO Web (Europe)
   • Digital press → Match to offset standards (Fogra39 or GRACoL)
3. When Completely Unsure

   Safe defaults (work 90% of the time):

   Global default: ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)

   • Most widely accepted internationally
   • Good color gamut
   • Compatible with most printers

   USA default: GRACoL 2006 Coated

   • US commercial printing standard
   • Widely supported

   These rarely cause issues: Even if not perfect match

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Profile Comparison

TAC Limits Comparison

Profile	TAC Limit	Why This Limit	Implication
ISO Coated v2	330%	European standard for coated paper	Rich colors, good blacks
GRACoL 2006	300%	US sheet-fed standard	Balanced, fast drying
SWOP 2006	300%	US web offset standard	Optimized for speed
PSO Coated v3	300%	Modern European standard	Faster drying than FOGRA39
PSO Uncoated v3	260%	Uncoated paper absorption limit	Prevents ink bleed/muddy colors
Japan Color	350%	Japanese paper/ink standards	Richest colors, slowest drying
Newsprint	240%	Low-quality paper limit	Prevents saturation/bleed

Lower TAC = Less ink = Faster drying + less saturation Higher TAC = More ink = Richer colors + longer drying

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Regional Standards Summary

Europe / International

Primary profiles:

Coated paper:

• Standard: ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)
• Modern: PSO Coated v3 (FOGRA51)
• Use: FOGRA39 unless printer specifies FOGRA51

Uncoated paper:

• Standard: PSO Uncoated v3 (FOGRA52)
• Older: ISO Uncoated (FOGRA47)

Newsprint:

• ISOnewspaper26v4 (FOGRA30)

Coverage: Works in most of Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa

USA / Canada / North America

Primary profiles:

Coated paper (sheet-fed):

• Standard: GRACoL 2006 Coated v2
• Use for: Business cards, brochures, flyers, corporate materials

Coated paper (web offset):

• Standard: SWOP 2006 Coated Grade 3
• Use for: Magazines, catalogs, publications

Uncoated paper:

• Standard: GRACoL Uncoated
• Alternative: SWOP Grade 5 (lower quality)

Newsprint:

• SWOP 2006 Grade 5

Coverage: USA, Canada, some Latin America

Japan / Asia-Pacific

Primary profiles:

Japan:

• Standard: Japan Color 2001 Coated
• Alternative: ISO Coated v2 (also accepted)

China:

• Common: ISO Coated v2 300%
• Some use: GRACoL 2006

Other Asia-Pacific:

• Most common: ISO Coated v2 300%
• Australia: ISO Coated v2 300%

Note: When unsure in Asia, ISO Coated v2 safest bet

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Common Mistakes

Using Generic 'CMYK' Profile

Problem: “Generic CMYK” or “US Web Coated (SWOP) v2”

Why wrong:

• Very old profiles (1990s)
• Don’t match modern printing
• Poor color accuracy
• Some printers reject

Fix: Use modern profiles (ISO Coated v2, GRACoL 2006, etc.)

Wrong Region Profile

Problem: Using GRACoL for European printer (or vice versa)

Result:

• Colors slightly off
• TAC violations possible
• Printer may need to convert (adds errors)

Fix: Match profile to printer’s region

Coated Profile for Uncoated Paper

Problem: Using ISO Coated v2 with uncoated paper stock

Result:

• Colors too dark
• Ink bleeds/spreads
• Muddy appearance
• TAC too high for paper

Fix: Use uncoated profile for uncoated paper (PSO Uncoated, GRACoL Uncoated)

Not Asking Printer

Problem: Guessing which profile to use

Better approach:

1. Email/call printer
2. Ask: “What ICC profile do you recommend?”
3. Use exactly what they say

Result: Guaranteed compatibility

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Downloading Profiles

Where to get standard ICC profiles:

ECI (European Color Initiative)

Profiles:

• ISO Coated v2 300% (FOGRA39)
• PSO Coated v3 (FOGRA51)
• PSO Uncoated v3 (FOGRA52)

Free download: Official European standards

IDEAlliance

Profiles:

• GRACoL 2006 Coated
• GRACoL Uncoated
• SWOP 2006

Free download: Official US standards

Adobe

Included with Adobe apps:

• Adobe RGB (1998)
• sRGB
• Common CMYK profiles

Location: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Color/Profiles (Mac)

Printer Custom Profiles

Custom profiles from your printer:

• Ask printer for their ICC profile
• Calibrated to their specific equipment
• Best accuracy

Use: For critical color matching

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Installing ICC Profiles

Mac

Installation:

1. Download .icc or .icm file

2. Place in one of these locations:

   • User: ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/
   • System: /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/

3. Restart applications

Access: Available in Printery profile dropdown

Windows

Installation:

1. Download .icc or .icm file

2. Right-click file → Install Profile

3. Or manually place in:

   • C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\

4. Restart applications

Access: Available in Printery profile dropdown

Verify Installation

Check in Printery:

1. Open plugin
2. Color tab → ICC Profile dropdown
3. Look for newly installed profile name

If not showing:

• Restart Figma
• Restart browser
• Verify file in correct folder
• Check file extension (.icc or .icm)

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Learn More

ICC Profiles Guide

Understanding ICC profiles in depth

RGB vs CMYK

Color model fundamentals

Color Accuracy Tutorial

Achieving accurate print colors

Color Issues Troubleshooting

Fix color problems