Perceptual rendering intent: A perceptual rendering intent will compress the source gamut (your image and ICC profile) to fit into the printer gamut (your ICC printer profile). When this is done all colors in the source gamut are compressed and when they are compressed all colors will move including colors that where originally within your printer ICC profiles gamut. A perceptual rendering intent is most often used in photography.
Relative Colorimetric rendering intent: A relative colorimetric rendering intent will compress only out of gamut colors from the source ICC profile to fit into the printer ICC profile. When this is done,source colors that are inside the printer gamut do not move. Source colors that are outside the printer gamut are compressed. Also, when using a relative colorimetric rendering intent the white point of the Source gamut is changed to the white point of the printer gamut so white in the original image remains white when printed. Relative colorimetric is most often used in proofing but may also on occasion be used in photographic work.
Absolute Colorimetric rendering intent: An absolute colorimetric rendering intent functions the same way a Relative Colorimetric rendering intent does with one exception. When using an absolute colorimetric rendering intent the white point of the Source profile is mapped as the white point of the printer profile. This may result in the printer printer laying down a layer of ink as its white point. This is very typical in a proofing environment when a press profile may be used as an source profile. Absolute Colorimetric is generally only used for CMYK to CMYK rendering.
Relative Colorimetric rendering intent: A relative colorimetric rendering intent will compress only out of gamut colors from the source ICC profile to fit into the printer ICC profile. When this is done,source colors that are inside the printer gamut do not move. Source colors that are outside the printer gamut are compressed. Also, when using a relative colorimetric rendering intent the white point of the Source gamut is changed to the white point of the printer gamut so white in the original image remains white when printed. Relative colorimetric is most often used in proofing but may also on occasion be used in photographic work.
Absolute Colorimetric rendering intent: An absolute colorimetric rendering intent functions the same way a Relative Colorimetric rendering intent does with one exception. When using an absolute colorimetric rendering intent the white point of the Source profile is mapped as the white point of the printer profile. This may result in the printer printer laying down a layer of ink as its white point. This is very typical in a proofing environment when a press profile may be used as an source profile. Absolute Colorimetric is generally only used for CMYK to CMYK rendering.