Article ID: 935893 - Last Review: June 27, 2008 - Revision: 2.1

Error message in Adobe Photoshop after you modify a file's metadata in Windows Vista: "The embedded ICC profile cannot be used because the ICC profile description is invalid"

Consider the following scenario:

A digital camera uses the Adobe RGB color space to capture a photograph as a .jpg image file.
You transfer the .jpg file to a computer that is running Windows Vista.
In Windows Explorer, you modify the file's metadata. For example, you change the star rating of the file.

In this scenario, when you use Adobe Photoshop to try to open the file, you receive the following error message:

The embedded ICC profile cannot be used because the ICC profile description is invalid. Ignoring the profile.

If you click Continue, the file opens without using the profile.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because Windows Vista writes back incorrect RGB information to the file when you change its metadata.

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WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, install Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or later will write correct RGB information to the file when metadata is changed.

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Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

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