A very useful feature introduced with CoPrA 2 with respect to DeviceLink creation is the ability to create a preview profile. With preview profile, a special printer profile is created from whatever DeviceLink combination (e.g. RGB-to-CMYK, CMYK-to-CMYK, CMYK-to-multicolor, etc.) and you can this use as a soft proof profile, e.g. in Photoshop. This means you can visually simulate your original data to see what it would look after DeviceLink conversion without actually having to convert the file. You can also create preview profiles for multicolor printer profiles.
Examples: If, for example, you wanted to adapt your RGB image data in RGB mode for the desired CMYK printing conditions, you could use the preview profile of your RGB-to-CMYK DeviceLink as a soft proof profile in Photoshop and see directly what the image would look like after conversion. That way, you can make specific RGB adjustments without having to convert the RGB file early on. Particularly with respect to storing RGB image data in media-neutral workflows, preview profile is an extremely useful function.
Preview profiles can also be created for multicolor printer profiles, which means you can obtain a true-color display simulation prior to using the multicolor profile. Although Photoshop CS4 or higher is able to convert image data using multicolor profiles, the displaying of multichannel files is not in true-color. Until now, a true-color display could only be achieved with additional plugins and requires much more work. With the preview profile function, an RGB printer profile is created which has the same color properties as the actual multicolor profile. You use this preview profile as a soft proof on your original image data just as described above for DeviceLinks.
Note: The preview profile is only intended for soft proofing and should not under any circumstances be used for the actual conversion. The preview profile provides a really good preview of the results to expect from a DeviceLink conversion. However, the special functions of a DeviceLink, e.g. preserving actual color purity, cannot be 100% simulated.
Preview profiles can only be created in CoPrA in conjunction with the actual DeviceLink or multicolor profile. Hence it is best that you activate the checkbox Save preview profile because then both profiles are created together.
Using the DocBees-ProfileManager version 2 or higher, which you can download free of charge from the ColorLogic download page, and a CoPrA 2 license loaded in the registration dialog of ProfileManager, you can also create a preview profile for an existing DeviceLink and multicolor profile.