Back to Dye Printing Tricks & Tips
It can be a little intimidating. You get the little warning screen telling you the photo you are about to open doesn't match your work space color. First, how did Photoshop know the color of your cubicle? So, what to do? Relax. Half the time it doesn't matter much. The other half you'll just completely ruin the photo.
Depending on the type of file you are opening, you'll get a different "Embedded Profile Mismatch" or "Missing Profile" warning:
"Leave as is" is pretty self-explanatory. Nothing will be changed as the file opens. You can then make changes and see them for yourself later.
"Convert document's colors to the working space" automatically changes the opening file to the color settings you set up (even if you don't remember doing it or left it to the default). If you want to mess with the settings (and be careful when you do) They are in >Edit>Color Settings>Working Spaces. Be advised that you can change all of your output drastically (to the good or to the bad.).
"Discard the embedded profile" erases, in Photoshop's mind anyway, the information this file had on its favorite base of color management.
"Leave as is" is pretty self-explanatory. Nothing will be changed as the file opens. You can then make changes and see them for yourself later.
"Assign working..." automatically changes the file's original working color base into what you've chosen as your default (again, >Edit>Color Settings>Working Spaces).
"Assign Profile" you can chose from the pull down menu any of several color management bases. The trick is to know for sure what your target printing output should sync up with. Then you have hope that what you see on screen is what will one day be printed.
There are entire chapters in the Adobe Photoshop manual and Photoshop Help explaining the intricasies of color management, color profiles, etc. Read, research, ask, but most of all remember to calibrate your monitor, note the differences between what is viewable and what is printable, and take a deep breath!
