在处理图像、视频甚至玩游戏时，最重要的元素之一就是颜色。每台显示器都有不同的颜色配置文件(color profile)，使其与其他显示器略有不同。确保显示器显示的颜色尽可能接近现实非常重要。这就是为什么您应该始终安装适合您的显示器的颜色配置文件。(color profile)在本教程中，我们将解释什么是ICM文件和颜色配置文件(color profile)，它们为何重要，以及如何在Windows 10中安装(Windows 10)颜色配置文件(color profile)。如果我们让您足够好奇以了解更多信息，请不要犹豫继续阅读。
什么是ICM 文件(ICM file)或颜色配置文件(color profile)？
颜色配置文件不容易定义，尤其是对于不经常使用图像和视频编辑(image and video editing)或摄影的人。因此，我们将尽力总结我们能做到的最好的：
颜色配置文件是一组数据，用于定义使用颜色的设备以及该设备如何显示颜色。(A color profile is a set of data which defines a device working with colors, and how this device displays colors.)颜色配置文件将您使用的设备的颜色特征传达给操作系统(operating system)。如果您使用的设备具有与其关联的正确颜色配置文件，那么您可以确保您看到的颜色尽可能自然。
相机、显示器、打印机、扫描仪等等，都是我们日常使用的影像设备。由于这些设备中的每一个都有自己的颜色管理方式，如果没有正确的颜色配置文件，您在显示器上看到的图像与打印时看到的图像会有很大的不同。
为了确保减少此类差异的发生频率并查看图像中使用的真实颜色，您需要在计算机上为使用颜色的设备安装颜色配置文件。(color profile)打印机和扫描仪将其颜色配置文件(color profile)与官方驱动程序一起安装。这就是为什么您需要担心的唯一组件就是您的显示器。人们很少为他们安装驱动程序，这意味着您的显示器没有使用正确的颜色配置文件(color profile)。因此，您会得到我们前面提到的颜色差异。
例如，假设您有一张非常漂亮的肖像照片(portrait photo)，是您生活中那个特别的女孩或男人的照片。(girl or guy)你想在你的显示器上看它。但是，由于您没有为显示器安装正确的颜色配置文件(color profile)，因此照片看起来与现实完全不同。你的女朋友皮肤白而不是红脸颊，她的眼睛是灰色而不是蓝色等等。如果照片是黑白的，情况可能会更糟。显示器使用错误的颜色配置文件(color profile)可能会将灰色变为黑色或相反。结果可能是一张看起来像是从报纸上扫描出来的照片：没有精细的细节，也没有平滑的渐变。
安装正确的颜色配置文件(color profile)对游戏玩家也很有用，他们可以确保他们看到游戏开发人员想要的颜色。错误的颜色配置文件(color profile)可能会将您的敌人隐藏在视线范围(plain sight)内，仅仅是因为它们与他们身后的墙壁一样灰色。
在本节的标题中，我们还提到了ICM文件，您可能想知道为什么。答案是这样的：在 Windows 中，颜色配置文件存储在以“.ICM”扩展名结尾的文件中(in Windows, color profiles are stored in files that end with the ".ICM" extension)。当您为显示器安装新的颜色配置文件(color profile)或驱动程序时，您应该拥有这样的东西：ICM 文件(ICM file)。为什么这个看似奇怪的名字？ICM来自Image Color Management，这是一种更简短的说法，即它是处理颜色管理的(color management)Windows组件。
还值得注意的是，有时，颜色配置文件也可以存储为ICC文件（ICC来自International Color Consortium）。它们与ICM文件相同，您可以将它们的扩展名更改为任何一个。Windows 10 对 ICM 和 ICC 文件的处理方式相同(Windows 10 treats both ICM and ICC files the same)。
现在您应该对什么是颜色配置文件和ICM(ICM)文件以及它们有用的原因有了基本的了解。但是，我们只是触及了这个主题的皮毛，因此，如果您想了解有关颜色配置文件及其重要性的更详细信息，我们强烈建议您阅读本指南：颜色管理概述(Overview of Color Management)。
如何为您的显示器找到合适的颜色配置文件(color profile)
通常，获取颜色配置文件(color profile)的最佳位置（假设您手边没有颜色校准器(color calibrator handy)）来自显示器制造商。通常，这些文件可以在显示器随附的 CD 上找到，也可以从制造商的支持站点(support site)下载。在我们的例子中，我们在计算机上使用的显示器是ASUS ROG Strix XG32VQ。
要记住的另一件事是，如果您搜索“颜色配置文件(color profile)”并指定您的显示器型号(monitor model)，您很可能找不到任何有用的东西。颜色配置文件通常被制造商命名为驱动程序。最好搜索适用于您的显示器型号(monitor model)的下载，然后下载可用的驱动程序。我们访问了华硕(ASUS)的支持网站，在(support website)搜索栏中(search field)输入了XG32VQ（显示器的型号）。搜索产生了该显示器的多个版本，因此我们选择了我们拥有的那个。
我们下载了最新的驱动程序文件(driver file)，它以ZIP 存档(ZIP archive)的形式出现。根据制造商的不同，它可以是扩展名为“.exe”的自解压存档、“.zip”或“.rar”文件。提取存档中的文件。您应该找到一个扩展名为“.icm”或“.icc”的文件。
下载并提取颜色配置文件(color profile)后，就可以应用它了。让我们看看如何做到这一点：
如何在Windows 10中安装(Windows 10)颜色配置文件(color profile)，使用右键菜单
在Windows 10中，安装颜色配置文件(color profile)非常容易。您所要做的就是打开解压颜色配置(color profile)文件的文件夹，右键单击或点击并按住(tap and hold)里面的ICM 文件(ICM file)，然后在上下文菜单中选择安装配置文件。(Install Profile)
而已！但是，如果您无法使用这种方式为您的显示器安装颜色配置文件(color profile)，那么还有另一个更长但始终有效的配置文件。如果您发现自己处于这种情况，请按照下一节中的步骤操作。
如何在Windows 10中安装(Windows 10)颜色配置文件(color profile)，使用颜色管理(Color Management)
在Windows 10中，使用任务栏上的搜索字段(search field)输入“颜色管理”字样。然后，从结果列表中，单击或点击(click or tap)颜色管理快捷方式(Color Management shortcut)。
然后，颜色管理窗口(Color Management window)出现，您应该看到如下内容：
在颜色管理窗口(Color Management window)的顶部，确保您选择了设备(Devices)选项卡。然后，在“设备(Device)”下拉框中，您会看到计算机上安装的设备列表，从您的显示器开始。如果您有多个显示器，请选择您刚刚下载了颜色配置文件(color profile)的显示器。识别(Identify)监视器按钮在这里可能会派上用场，因为它会显示您的不同显示器及其编号：显示器 1(display 1)、显示器 2(display 2)等。
选择正确的显示后，单击或点击(click or tap)窗口左下角的添加按钮。(Add button)请注意，如果已为所选显示器安装了颜色配置文件，则“(color profile)添加”按钮(Add button)可能会变灰并禁用。如果是这种情况，但您仍想用您下载的颜色配置文件替换现有的颜色配置文件(color profile)，请确保选中“使用(Use)我的此设备设置”框。然后，您将能够使用添加按钮(Add button)。
“关联颜色配置文件”窗口(Associate Color Profile window)打开，您可以在其中看到包含所有已安装颜色配置文件(color profile)的列表。这些配置文件可由其他设备（如打印机或扫描仪(printer or scanner)）或图像编辑软件（如Adobe Photoshop ）安装和使用。单击(Click)或点按浏览(Browse)并找到您刚刚下载的颜色配置文件的位置。(color profile)
选择文件并单击(file and click)或点击添加(Add)。
您可能会注意到，随着新配置文件生效，屏幕上的颜色会发生变化。单击(Click)或点击关闭(Close)，您就完成了。
如果您有多台显示器，您应该为每台显示器重复该过程，并确保下载并安装特定于每台显示器的颜色配置文件。
您是否(Did)为您的显示器安装了正确的颜色配置文件(color profile) ICM 文件？(ICM file)
我们很确定我们的一些读者没有意识到颜色配置文件和驱动程序对于他们的桌面显示器的重要性。希望本教程已说服您为显示器安装适当的颜色配置文件。如您所见，该过程相当容易遵循，并且在使用图像和视频编辑应用程序(image and video editing applications)以及玩游戏时肯定会有所帮助。
What is an ICM file? How to use it to install a color profile, in Windows 10?
Onе of the most important elements when working with іmаgеs, video and evеn when plaуing games, is color. Every monitor has a dіfferent сolor prоfile, rendering it slіghtly diffеrent from other displays. It's important to make sure that the colors your monitor displays are as сlose to reality as possible. That's why you should always install a color profile that's suited for yоur disрlay. In this tutorial, we're going to explain what ICM files and color profiles are, why they mattеr, and how to install a color prоfile in Windows 10. If we made you curious enough to learn more, don't hesіtate to read on.
What is an ICM file or a color profile?
Color profiles are not easy to define, especially by people who don't work a lot with image and video editing or photography. Therefore we will try to summarise the best we can:
A color profile is a set of data which defines a device working with colors, and how this device displays colors. The color profiles communicate the color characteristics of the device you use, to the operating system. If the devices you use have correct color profiles associated with them, then you can be sure that the colors you see are as natural as possible.
Cameras, monitors, printers, scanners and so on, are all image devices that we use every day. And because each of these devices has its own way of managing colors, without the correct color profiles, the image you view on your monitor will look very different from what you see when you print it.
In order to make sure such differences occur less often and see the real colors used in an image, you need to install the color profiles for the devices that are working with colors on your computer. Printers and scanners install their color profiles together with their official drivers. That's why the only component you need to worry about is your monitor. People rarely install drivers for them and this translates into your monitor not using a correct color profile. Therefore, you get the differences in color we mentioned earlier.
For example, imagine that you have a really nice portrait photo of that special girl or guy in your life. And you want to look at it on your monitor. But, because you don't have the correct color profile installed for your monitor, the photo looks completely different from reality. Your girlfriend has pale skin instead of red cheeks, her eyes are gray instead of blue and so on. It can be even worse if the photo is black and white. A wrong color profile used by your monitor can turn the grays to blacks or the other way around. The result will probably be a photo that looks like it was scanned from a newspaper: with no fine details and no smooth gradients.
Installing the correct color profile can also be useful for gamers, who can be sure that they see the colors intended by game developers. A wrong color profile may hide your enemies in plain sight, simply because they are as gray as the walls behind them.
In this section's title, we also mentioned ICM files and you're probably wondering why. The answer is this: in Windows, color profiles are stored in files that end with the ".ICM" extension. When you're installing a new color profile, or driver if you wish, for your monitor, that's what you should have: an ICM file. Why this seemingly odd name? ICM comes from Image Color Management, which is a shorter way of saying that it's Windows' component that handles color management.
It's also worth noting that sometimes, color profiles can also be stored as ICC files (ICC comes from International Color Consortium). They're the same as ICM files and you can change their extension to either one. Windows 10 treats both ICM and ICC files the same.
Now you should have a basic idea of what color profiles and ICM files are and why they are useful. But, we've only scratched the surface on this subject, so, if you want a more detailed information on color profiles and their importance, we highly recommend that you to read this guide: Overview of Color Management.
How to find the appropriate color profile for your monitor
Generally, the best location to get a color profile, (assuming you don't have a color calibrator handy) is from the manufacturer of your monitor. Usually, these files are found on either a CD that came with your display or available for download from your manufacturer's support site. In our case, the monitor we used on our computer is an ASUS ROG Strix XG32VQ.
Another thing to remember is that, if you search for "color profile" and specify your monitor model, chances are you won't find anything useful. Color profiles are generally named as drivers by manufacturers. It is best to search for downloads available for your monitor model and then to download the driver available. We went to ASUS' support website and typed XG32VQ (the model of the monitor) in the search field. The search yielded several versions of this monitor, so we picked the one we have.
We downloaded the latest driver file, which came in the form of a ZIP archive. Depending on the manufacturer, it can be a self-extracting archive with the extension ".exe", a ".zip" or ".rar" file. Extract the files inside the archive. You should find a file with the extension ".icm" or ".icc".
Once you have downloaded and extracted your color profile, it's time to apply it. Let's see how to do that:
How to install a color profile in Windows 10, using the right-click menu
In Windows 10, installing a color profile can be very easy. All you have to do is open the folder where you unpacked the color profile, right-click or tap and hold on the ICM file inside, and then choose Install Profile in the contextual menu.
That's it! However, if you can't install the color profile for your monitor using this way, there's another one that's longer but always works. If you find yourself in this situation, follow the steps from the next section.
How to install a color profile in Windows 10, using Color Management
In Windows 10, use the search field on your taskbar to enter the words "color management". Then, from the list of results, click or tap on the Color Management shortcut.
Then, the Color Management window shows up and you should see something like this:
On the top area of the Color Management window, make sure that you select the Devices tab. Then, in the Device drop-down box you have a list of devices installed on your computer, starting with your monitor(s). If you have multiple monitors, select the monitor for which you just downloaded the color profile. The Identify monitors button may come in handy here, as it shows your different displays and their number: display 1, display 2, etc.
After you have selected the correct display, click or tap on the Add button from the bottom left corner of the window. Note that if a color profile is already installed for the selected monitor, the Add button might be greyed out and disabled. If that's the case, but you still want to replace the existing color profile with the one you've downloaded, make sure you check the box that says "Use my settings for this device". Then, you will be able to use the Add button.
The Associate Color Profile window is opened, where you can see a list with all the installed color profiles. These profiles can be installed and used by other devices, such as your printer or scanner, or by image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. Click or tap Browse and find the location of the color profile you just downloaded.
Select the file and click or tap Add.
You may notice that the colors on your screen change as the new profile takes effect. Click or tap Close and you are done.
If you have multiple monitors, you should repeat the procedure for each monitor and make sure that you download and install the color profiles that are specific to each.
Did you install the correct color profile ICM file for your monitor?
We're pretty sure that some of our readers were not aware of the importance of color profiles and drivers for their desktop monitors. Hopefully, this tutorial has convinced you to install the appropriate color profiles for your display(s). As you can see, the procedure is fairly easy to follow and it will definitely help when working with image and video editing applications and also when gaming.
