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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