tificc Command in Linux
The tificc command in Linux applies an ICC (International Color Consortium) profile to a TIFF file. It uses LCMS to apply ICC profiles to TIFF images. It is especially valuable in color-sensitive processes like photography, printing, and digital imaging.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the tificc command in Linux −
- Installation of tificc Command
- Syntax of the tificc Command
- Options for the tificc Command
- Examples of tificc Command in Linux
Installation of tificc Command
The tificc command is part of the liblcms-utils package in Linux. Make sure the package is installed before using the command. To install it on Ubuntu, Kali Linux, Raspberry Pi OS, Debian, and other Debian-based distributions, use the following command −
sudo apt install liblcms2-utils
To install it on Arch Linux, use the command below −
sudo pacman -S lcms2
To install liblcms2-utils on Fedora, use the following command −
sudo dnf install liblcms2-utils
To verify the installation of the tificc command, check its binary using the which command −
which tificc
Syntax of the tificc Command
The syntax of the tificc command in Linux is as follows −
tificc [options] input.tif output.tif
In the above syntax, the [options] field is used to specify the options that modify the command's behavior. The input.tif and output.tif represent the source and destination files, respectively.
Options for the tificc Command
The options for the Linux tificc command are listed below −
| Options | Description |
|---|---|
| -a | Handle channels > 4 as alpha. |
| -b | Black point compensation. |
| -c NUM | Precalculates transform (0=Off, 1=Normal, 2=Hi-res, 3=LoRes) [defaults to 1]. |
| -d NUM | Observer adaptation state (abs.col. only), (0..1.0, float value) [defaults to 0.0]. |
| -e | Embed destination profile. |
| -g | Marks out-of-gamut colors on softproof. |
| -h NUM | Show summary of options and examples (0=help, 1=Examples, 2=Built-in profiles, 3=Contact information) |
| -i profile | Input profile (defaults to sRGB). |
| -k inklimit | Ink-limiting in % (CMYK only), (0..400.0, float value) [default 400.0]. |
| -l profile | Transform by device-link profile. |
| -m | SoftProof intent [defaults to 0]. |
| -n | Ignore embedded profile on input. |
| -o profile | Output profile (defaults to sRGB). |
| -p profile | Soft proof profile. |
| -s newprofile | Save the embedded profile as newprofile. |
| -t NUM | Rendering intent: 0=Perceptual [default], 1=Relative colorimetric, 2=Saturation, 3=Absolute colorimetric, 10-15=Variations for black ink/plane preservation. |
| -v | Verbose. |
| -w NUM | Output depth (8, 16, or 32). Use 32 for floating-point. |
Examples of tificc Command in Linux
This section demonstrates the usage of the tificc command in Linux with examples −
Applying ICC Profile to a TIFF File
To apply the default ICC profile (sRGB), use the tificc command in the following way −
tificc sample.tif output.tif
To verify, use the identify command −
identify output.tif
Using an Input ICC Profile
The systemâs default color profile is located in the /usr/share/color/icc/colord directory. To list them, use the following command −
ls /usr/share/color/icc/colord
To use the input ICC profile, use the -i option −
tificc -i /usr/share/color/icc/colord/AppleRGB.icc sample.tif output.tif
Specifying Rendering Intent
Rendering intent refers to the strategy used to map colors from one color space to another during color conversion. The default rendering intent of the TIFF command is 0, which is perceptual. To set a specific rendering intent, use the -t option −
tificc -t 2 sample.tif output.tif
A list of other rendering intent options is given below −
- 0 = Perceptual [default]
- 1 = Relative colorimetric
- 2 = Saturation
- 3 = Absolute colorimetric
- 10-15 = Variations for black ink/plane preservation.
Pre-Calculating the Transform
The pre-calculation of the transform is a technique to optimize and speed up color space conversions by performing the heavy calculations ahead of time, ensuring quicker and more efficient color management processes, especially in high-volume or batch workflows.
To pre-calculate the transform, use the -c option −
tificc -c 2 sample.tif output.tif
A list of pre-calculation settings is given below −
- 0 = Off
- 1 = Normal
- 2 = Hi-res
- 3 = LoRes
Embedding Destination Profile
To embed the destination ICC profile, use the -e option with the -o option followed by ICC profile −
tificc -e -o BruceRGB.icc sample.tif output.tif
Handling Out-of-Gamut Colors During Softproof
Softproofing is a technique used in digital imaging to simulate how an image will look when printed or displayed on a specific device. To mark out-of-gamut colors when performing a softproof, use the -g option −
tificc -g sample.tif output.tif
When softproofing an image, some colors might fall outside the color gamut of the target device. The -g option helps identify those out-of-gamut colors by marking them.
Setting Ink-Limiting for CMYK
The default ink limit is 400. To set the ink-limiting for CMYK TIFF files, use the -k option −
tificc -k 300 sample.tif output.tif
Conclusion
The tificc command in Linux is a useful tool for applying ICC profiles to TIFF images, leveraging LCMS to manage color profiles. It is particularly beneficial in color-critical fields like photography, printing, and digital imaging. With various options, such as embedding profiles, adjusting rendering intent, and pre-calculating transforms, it enhances color accuracy and efficiency.