How to obtain and install the Microsoft Standard CMYK Profile (RSWOP.icm) in Windows Vista

This article describes how to obtain and install the Microsoft Standard CMYK Profile (RSWOP.icm) in Windows Vista.

Some programs manage color to help make sure that colors appear as accurately as possible on the display and on printed output. This color management process involves converting colors from a source profile to a destination profile. The source profile is the color profile of the device from which the image originates. For example, the source profile may be the color profile of a camera. The destination profile is the color profile of the device that displays the image or prints the image.

If either the source profile or the destination profile is unavailable, the color conversion operation is unsuccessful. Therefore, when you display the image or print the image to a device that does not have the color profile, the colors may be inaccurate.

The RSWOP.icm cyan-magenta-yellow-black (CMYK) color profile targets the "Specifications for Web Offset Publications" (SWOP) printing standard. This color profile is installed when you install Microsoft Office. However, by default, this color profile is not installed in Windows Vista. Therefore, you may experience unexpected results when you use certain programs that manage color.

Installation information

To install the Microsoft Standard CMYK Profile, follow these steps:

1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=84824 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=84824)
2. Review the license agreement. If you accept the terms of the license agreement, click I accept this agreement and want to download a copy of the Microsoft Standard CMYK Profile.
3. Click RSWOP.exe, and then click Save.
4. In Windows Explorer, locate the RSWOP.exe file that you downloaded in step 3. Then, double-click the file to extract its contents.
5. Right-click the extracted RSWOP.icm file, and then click Install Profile.
   
   This action copies the RSWOP.icm file to the "%WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Drivers\Color\" folder.