I am using CS3 for soft proofing and printing after export from LR. In the print dialog there are the options to print either the document or the the proof (with the appropriate profile). What is the difference between these 2 options? Is printing the proof the only way to use an ICC profile?

thanks

You want to use Document. The name of your working space should be shown in parentheses after the word "Document". Good way to double-check that your color settings are correct.

Proof provides a three way conversion based on the profile currently the default or loaded in Custom Proof setup. So you have a document in ProPhoto RGB (1). You are printing to an Epson 4880 (3) and you want to have that printer simulate what the image would look like on a SWOP Press (2). Proof loaded brings device #2 into the mix:

ProPhoto RGB to SWOP to Epson. Or RGB to CMYK to RGB.

Thanks team

So now I'm confused about creating a proof print on my epson printer to display how the RGB image will display using the Print-house's cmyk profile?

If I leave the image in it's RGB color-space and then in the print dialog box choose proof & select the cmyk profile provided by my printer is this the best way to proof how it will appear in cmyk? Or are you saying I should convert the file prior to the print dialog box to the cmyk color-space?

Please accept my apologies for being completely lost when it comes to this topic as I appreciate any insights you can provide. thank jeff

IF you use the Proof radio button as described, its a three way conversion.

You could convert to CMYK and just make a two way conversion (CMYK to RGB for Epson). That's an extra step. So Proof is simply a way to proof a CMYK image, on another device (in this case RGB) FROM the original master working space (which is in RGB).

Thanks for clearing that up, was kind of wondering when a recent proof showed no change.

on a side-note I noticed you were looking at deals for a new mac tower, Not sure if you're still with ASMP if you are, you do get a discount through the Apple store (however there's the tax)

thanks again. jeff