Emma Davis Print Production Specialist at 4OVER4.COM
Emma is our prepress and print production voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What's the difference between US Web Coated SWOP v2 and other CMYK profiles?
Answer
US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 is a CMYK color profile built for a specific printing condition, and the alternatives exist because presses, papers, and regions differ. Picking the right profile keeps your colors predictable from screen to final sheet.
| Profile | Built for |
|---|---|
| US Web Coated (SWOP) v2 | Web offset on coated paper, North American standard |
| Coated FOGRA39 | European offset printing standard |
| GRACoL 2006 / 2013 | Premium commercial sheetfed presses |
| Uncoated profiles | Uncoated stocks where ink spreads more into the paper |
- Coated profiles assume ink sits on a sealed surface, so colors look richer
- Uncoated profiles compensate for ink soaking into the paper
- For North American coated work, SWOP v2 is the safe default
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