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Visualization: effect of black point compensation on the mapping of the lower 10% of L* values. The gamut shown is Hahnemühle Photo Rag printed on an Epson 4800. Plotted are L* values in 2% steps from 0% to 10%. Rendering intent was relative colorimetric of course.
Circle – without BPC all six grays are mapped to the same point (goodbye shadow detail).
Squares – with BPC all values are neatly separated.
This is why you should use black point compensation with the relative colorimetric intent.
