[EN] Output Intent – Profile Variants and Incompatible Adobe PDF Settings

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If you have received the following message, one possible cause is the use of a profile variant:

r [DE] V-DUON Incorrect Profile in Output Intent. The required profile is … [Name of required profile]

In addition to profile variants, there are numerous other possible causes for this error message. Unless support has specifically identified this cause, please first check whether another (more likely) cause applies:

r [DE] Output Intent – Missing Output Intent, Incorrect ICC Profile, Profile Variants, OI Syntax

 

Analysis

This help article describes the most likely causes and their solutions if the above error message appears and all of the following conditions are met:

• You have checked and applied the specifications during document creation.

• You have selected the correct named color profile in the Adobe PDF Presets dialog under Output, in the field Name of Output Intent Profile.

 

How to Determine Which Profile to Specify in the Output Intent

The required profile depends on the title, issue, format, and possibly other parameters. You can find the required profile—including its name, MD5 hash, download link, and additional information—under Technical Specifications.

These specifications are available on the medium page of the title after selecting the booked issue and format. The same information can also be found in the created job after selecting the medium, issue, and format.

How to Check Which Profile Is Embedded in the Output Intent of Your File

You can view the Output Intent and the embedded profile directly in Acrobat Pro:

1. Open the file to be examined in Acrobat Pro.

2. Go to Tools > Print Production > Preflight.

3. In the Profiles tab, run any check by double-clicking a profile (for example, Check PDF/X-4 Compliance).

4. Switch to the Results tab.

5. Expand: Overview > OutputIntents > OutputIntent [Name] > ICC Output Profile.

6. The MD5 hash can be found at the end of the list.

Causes & Solutions

 

1. InDesign runtime error

Users have reported that a simple restart of InDesign or the computer was able to fix the issue for them.

 

2. Correct Name but Incorrect Profile (Wrong MD5 Hash)

If the name of the required ICC profile matches the embedded profile in the Output Intent, many users may suspect a false positive (i.e., an error in the check).

In the DUON portal, profile identity is verified not by name but by a unique “fingerprint.” Each ICC profile has a unique MD5 hash (checksum).

We compare the hash of the ICC profile embedded in the Output Intent with the hash of the required profile. Even a single byte difference produces a different checksum. Only files that exactly match the required profile—i.e., have the same hash—are accepted.

There are two known causes for a checksum mismatch even when names are identical, which are explained in the following sections. You can jump directly to these sections:

• Use of a profile variant

• Conflict between the Adobe PDF preset used and the InDesign version

3. Using a Profile Variant

Causes

The computer used to create the file contains a profile variant. In fact, many ICC profiles exist in multiple “variants,” even if the names are identical. There are several reasons for this:

• Some profile publishers have not consistently managed versioning, releasing new files with the same name while properties differ.

• Users may have modified or “optimized” externally obtained profiles or unknowingly used such profiles..

Solution

A profile variant located in one of several possible folders on the computer used to create the file is being accessed by InDesign during export.

1. Identify the original computer on which the file was created.

2. Locate the incorrect profile. You need to know all possible locations where profiles may reside. System-specific information can be found here:
   r [DE] Install ICC Profile

3. Delete the incorrect profile.

4. Empty the trash (otherwise the reference remains).

5. Determine which profile is required and download the exact correct profile:
   r [DE] Find and Download ICC Profile

6. Install the profile correctly:
   r [DE] Install ICC Profile

7. Create a new PDF and upload it.

Tip for Agencies

It is recommended that these steps are not performed individually by every designer. Download all required profiles and replace them on all computers and systems in use.

PSR_LWC_PLUS_V2_M1_v2

With the release of the gravure printing profile package in December 2019, the ECI published another variant of the profile PSR_LWC_PLUS_V2_M1.icc. A profile with the same name had already been released in 2018.

The two profiles differ in color characteristics. According to ECI, the new variant improves proofing results.

Unlike previous releases, the time stamps were retained, allowing the profiles to be distinguished at least by date.

To clearly differentiate the improved variant from the previous one, ECI released a new gravure package in 2020. This package includes the ICC profile PSR_LWC_PLUS_V2_M1_v2.icc (note the suffix “_v2” at the end of the name). Magazines printed on improved LWC paper are being gradually updated to this new profile.

Currently, many magazines still use the 2018 package profile. Please continue to use this profile if the required profile is PSR_LWC_PLUS_V2_M1.icc. The 2019 package has since been removed from the ECI download overview. We recommend not using this profile to avoid name confusion.

 

4. Conflict Between the Adobe PDF Preset Used and InDesign Version

An incompatibility with the job options file (PDF presets; export settings) can lead to changes in the ICC profile stream.

Starting with InDesign CC 2014, a new feature called Seamless Upgrade was introduced. This feature ensures that presets and settings defined in a previous version of InDesign—such as print presets, workspaces, custom keyboard shortcuts, and more—are automatically migrated when upgrading to a newer version, eliminating the need to recreate them manually.

In rare cases, the automatic seamless upgrade may fail, causing issues such as changes to the profile object stream.

In such cases, you can perform the migration manually by selecting:
Edit > Migrate Previous Local Settings…

5. Corrupted Preferences

Corrupted preference files can cause issues like these.

Delete all InDesign preferences (hard reset)

To remove all custom settings, presets, and the cache, the preference files must be deleted.

Quick method (during startup)

Launch InDesign and immediately press Ctrl + Alt + Shift (Windows) or Command + Option + Control + Shift (Mac).
Confirm the prompt by clicking "Yes."

Manual method (delete folders)

Delete the following folders in your user directory to reset the preferences (this is also where old joboptions are stored):

Windows:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\

macOS:
Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Adobe InDesign/

Important:
It is recommended to create a backup before deleting the preferences.

 

6. InDesign Crash or Runtime Error

An InDesign crash or runtime error can also cause problems like these.

• Quit InDesign
• Restart your computer

Important Information

 

Why is it important to use the exact correct profile?

Nearly 100,000 print files are uploaded to the DUON portal each year. In the Output Intents, we often find profiles with the correct name. However, we have observed that even with the same name, the contents of the embedded profiles can differ from the expected profiles.

For this reason, we decided not to use the profile name as the criterion for determining whether the correct profile is embedded. Instead, we compare a checksum for this purpose.

We refer to differing profiles as profile variants. From the outside, it is not always possible to determine the extent of the differences. Color deviations cannot be excluded.

 

Are There Effects When Using Profile Variants?

Yes. In individual cases, we have been able to verify such effects. If the profile p is required for submitting an ad, but the submitter instead uses profile p' (where p' represents a profile with the same name but different properties), this can lead to incorrect preparation or incorrect simulation of the data.

Using p' can result in faulty or inferior preparation or simulation if the properties of p and p' differ significantly. For example, the profile embedded in the Output Intent is used to simulate the appearance of the ad, for instance, when viewed in Acrobat.

It is common practice across agencies, publishers, and printers to intentionally ignore and internally replace profiles in the Output Intent for various technical reasons. This is generally not a problem as long as p and p' are identical.

Problems arise when p and p' differ in colorimetric or mathematical properties. In such cases, a simulation in Acrobat (using p') may look different from a hard- or soft-proof environment (where p' is ignored and replaced by p).

For conversion and simulation, various mathematical transformations are used, based on A2B tables, CLUTs, matrix parameters, or the white point of the embedded profile in the Output Intent.

Via the Profile Connection Space (PCS), values are converted using the B2A tables of the device profile g of the simulating device (e.g., monitor or proofer) into the simulation color space. Often, prebuilt profiles from hard- and soft-proofing systems are used. Here, the target profile p of the printing process and the device profile g are combined into a simulation profile s. The simulation using profile s only works correctly if profile p is used, but not if profile p' is used.