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Overview

ImageGlass supports ICC (International Color Consortium) color profiles to ensure accurate color representation across different devices and displays. Proper color management is essential for photographers, designers, and anyone working with color-critical images.

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Understanding Color Profiles

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What is an ICC Profile?

An ICC profile describes how colors should be interpreted and displayed. It ensures that:
  • Colors appear consistently across different devices
  • Images look the same on your monitor as they will in print
  • Color accuracy is maintained throughout your workflow

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Color Profile Types

  • Embedded profiles: Color information stored within image files (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.)
  • Monitor profiles: Describe your display’s color characteristics
  • Working space profiles: Standard color spaces like sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB

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Configuring Color Profiles

1

Open Settings

Go to Settings > Image section
2

Locate Color Profile Settings

Find the Color profile dropdown
3

Select Profile Option

Choose from the available options:
  • Current monitor profile (recommended)
  • sRGB
  • Adobe RGB
  • Custom ICC/ICM file path
4

Configure Application Scope

Enable Apply color profile for all images if you want to override embedded profiles

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Color Profile Options

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Current Monitor Profile

ColorProfileOption.CurrentMonitorProfile
Uses the ICC profile associated with your active monitor. This is the recommended setting for most users. Advantages:
  • Automatically adapts to your display
  • No configuration required
  • Updates automatically if monitor profile changes
When to use:
  • General image viewing
  • Calibrated monitors
  • Multi-monitor setups

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sRGB (Standard RGB)

ColorProfileOption.sRGB
The most common color space for web and digital images. Advantages:
  • Universal compatibility
  • Standard for web browsers
  • Smaller color gamut (easier to display accurately)
When to use:
  • Web images
  • Smartphone photos
  • Images without embedded profiles

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Adobe RGB

ColorProfileOption.AdobeRGB
A wider color gamut than sRGB, commonly used in professional photography. Advantages:
  • Wider range of colors
  • Better for print reproduction
  • Professional photography standard
When to use:
  • Professional photography workflows
  • Print preparation
  • High-end camera raw files
Adobe RGB images may appear dull if displayed without proper color management. Always ensure your monitor is calibrated for Adobe RGB.

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Custom ICC/ICM File

You can specify a custom color profile by providing the full path to an ICC or ICM file: 
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\YourProfile.icc
When to use:
  • Custom calibrated profiles
  • Specialized workflows
  • Matching specific output devices
Windows stores system color profiles in C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\

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Advanced Settings

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Apply Color Profile for All Images

When enabled, ImageGlass applies your chosen profile to all images, overriding any embedded profiles. 
Config.ShouldUseColorProfileForAll = true;
Use cases:
  • Consistent viewing experience across all images
  • Previewing how images will look in a specific color space
  • Troubleshooting color issues
Caution:
Enabling this option may cause images with embedded profiles to display incorrectly. Only use if you understand the implications.

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Ignore Color Profile

To disable color management entirely: 
CodecReadOptions.IgnoreColorProfile = true;
This displays raw image data without any color transformation.

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Viewing Color Information

ImageGlass displays color space information in the title bar and image info:
  1. Color Space: The image’s color space (e.g., RGB, CMYK, Grayscale)
  2. Color Profile: The embedded ICC profile name (if present)

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Display Format

ColorSpace/ProfileName
Examples:
  • sRGB/sRGB IEC61966-2.1
  • RGB/Adobe RGB (1998)
  • RGB/- (no embedded profile)
Enable the Color space tag in image info settings to see this information in the title bar.

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Color Management Workflow

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For Photographers

1

Calibrate Your Monitor

Use a hardware calibrator (like X-Rite ColorMunki or Datacolor SpyderX)
2

Configure ImageGlass

Set color profile to Current monitor profile
3

Use Embedded Profiles

Leave Apply color profile for all images disabled
4

Verify in ImageGlass

Check that colors match your editing software (Lightroom, Photoshop)

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For Web Designers

1

Set Default to sRGB

Configure color profile to sRGB
2

Enable for All Images

Turn on Apply color profile for all images
3

Preview Web Colors

Images now display as they will in web browsers

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For Print Production

1

Use Custom Profile

Load your printer’s ICC profile
2

Soft Proof

Preview how images will look when printed
3

Compare Profiles

Toggle between monitor and print profiles to identify gamut issues

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Technical Details

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Color Space Detection

ImageGlass automatically detects:
  • Embedded ICC profiles from image metadata
  • EXIF color space tags
  • Default color space based on file format

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Supported Color Spaces

  • RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
  • CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
  • Grayscale
  • LAB (Lab*)
  • And more…

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Profile Application

Color profiles are applied during image decoding: 
var readSettings = new CodecReadOptions()
{
    ColorProfileName = Config.ColorProfile,
    ApplyColorProfileForAll = Config.ShouldUseColorProfileForAll,
};

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Troubleshooting

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Colors Look Washed Out

Possible causes:
  • Monitor not calibrated
  • Using Adobe RGB profile on sRGB monitor
  • Incorrect color profile selected
Solutions:
  • Switch to Current monitor profile
  • Calibrate your monitor
  • Use sRGB for general viewing

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Colors Don’t Match Other Applications

Possible causes:
  • Different color management settings
  • Application not using ICC profiles
  • Monitor profile mismatch
Solutions:
  • Verify both applications use the same color profile
  • Check if other application supports color management
  • Ensure Windows color management is configured correctly

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Custom Profile Not Working

Checklist:
  • Verify the ICC/ICM file path is correct
  • Ensure the file exists and is readable
  • Check file permissions
  • Confirm the profile is valid (try opening in other software)

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Images Look Too Saturated

Possible causes:
  • Wide gamut profile on standard monitor
  • Incorrect monitor profile
  • Display driver issues
Solutions:
  • Switch to sRGB profile
  • Update display drivers
  • Recalibrate monitor

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Best Practices

Always calibrate: Regular monitor calibration ensures accurate color representation.
Respect embedded profiles: Leave “Apply for all images” disabled unless you have a specific need.
Match your workflow: Use the same color profile across all applications in your workflow.
Understand your display: Know whether your monitor is sRGB or wide gamut (Adobe RGB, DCI-P3).

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