Monitorprofile

Monitorprofile refers to a data file that describes the color characteristics of a display to enable color management across devices and applications. In most contexts, a Monitorprofile is an ICC profile (with .icc or .icm extensions) that accompanies a monitor and provides the information needed to translate colors between device-dependent values and device-independent color spaces. Key elements typically encoded in a monitor profile include the display’s color primaries, white point, gamma, and the gamut the screen can reproduce, as measured during profiling.

Creation and use: A Monitorprofile is created by calibrating the monitor with a colorimeter or spectrophotometer and profiling software. The process yields measurements that map the monitor’s output to a standard color space. Once generated, the profile is installed in the operating system and assigned to the corresponding display. Applications with color management enabled consult the system’s color management service to convert colors according to the profile, promoting consistency across different programs and devices. Rendering intents (perceptual, relative colorimetric, absolute colorimetric, and saturation) govern how colors outside the monitor’s gamut are handled during this conversion.

Formats, scope, and maintenance: Monitorprofiles are used by Windows, macOS, and modern Linux environments and may be set per monitor or per user. They are distinct from, but related to, calibration data that may be stored separately. Because displays can drift over time and ambient lighting can change perception, re-profiling and re-calibration are recommended periodically to maintain color accuracy.

Relation to related concepts: The term Monitorprofile is closely related to color management, ICC profiles, device calibration, and device profiling. A well-maintained Monitorprofile helps ensure that colors appear consistent across software, prints, and other displays under defined viewing conditions.