What happens if my file has no embedded colour profile?

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If your file has no embedded colour profile

A colour profile (ICC profile) tells software how to interpret the numeric colour values in your file. Without one, those numbers are ambiguous — different apps may guess differently, so your colours can shift or look flat, washed-out, or oversaturated compared with what you saw while editing.

To avoid surprises, always embed a profile before uploading:

  1. In Photoshop or Lightroom, work in (or convert to) Adobe RGB (1998) — theprintspace's recommended working space — or convert to the specific paper profile if you have soft-proofed.
  2. When exporting, tick Embed Colour Profile (Photoshop's Save As / Export, or Lightroom's Colour Space setting).
  3. Save as a high-quality JPEG (quality 12 / Baseline Standard) or a flattened TIFF, at 300 PPI and 8-bit.

If colour accuracy matters, soft-proof first using theprintspace's downloadable ICC profiles so you can see how the file will translate onto your chosen paper.

When to order a test print

If you're unsure whether a file's colour will reproduce as expected — especially for a large or important print — order a small print or a paper sample pack first. That's the most reliable way to confirm colour before committing to size.

Still need a hand?

Ask the in-app help assistant from your creativehub dashboard, or email us — a real person replies. info@theprintspace.co.uk