Acrobat Output Preview panel behavior change: Simulation Profile changed appearance, now values
If I change the Simulation Preview profile in the Output Preview panel, it used to be that I would see my color simulated as if it printed/displayed in the other environment. Now, however, it's actually changing the color values to keep the same appearance. This is a bad idea. We need a way to turn this off or at least toggle it.
I'm currently seeing this behavior in the 2024 version. I'm not sure with which version this changed.
(Architecture: x86_64
Processor: Intel
Build: 24.4.20219.0
AGM: 7.1.8)
When you open a PDF, the Output Preview panel defaults to your working color profile, either set in the Acrobat preferences or synchronized through Bridge. Unless of course, the PDF/X file had a specified Output Intent, where it will default to that Simulation Profile. The ink values in the Separations are consistent with the exported file.
I know I'm not imagining things, but it used to be when you changed to a different Simulation Profile, the view of that color breakdown would change, showing how that ink formula would appear in that other printing condition. All the numbers stayed the same, but their chromatic appearance on screen shifted to simulate the other condition. This is what (we assumed) this function was for.
Now it's behaving differently: now if you switch to a different Simulation Profile, the values of the inks change. The appearance stays the same, but all the ink numbers move. This is consistent with a conversion.
A similar behavior would be in InDesign, or Photoshop, with the difference between Assigning a color profile, or Converting to that same profile. One changes the appearance of those values, the other changes the values to preserve the appearance.
This new behavior is causing issues for us.
If I have a file I know is destined for a Fogra press, but was not output with an Output Intent specified, when I open it on my system, where my default CMYK profile is GRACoL 2013, that's the profile the Output Preview panel will display. When I change the Simulation Profile to Fogra 47, I get different CMYK values in the art. But I need to see the original values — in that other profile.
This is not how this panel is supposed to work — not how it's labeled, not how it used to work in the past. I am not converting the color — my printer is not converting the color. (Most of them will not accept a color-managed PDF.) They are plating the ink values I've given them. Is that not the purpose of the Simulation Profile, in the Output Preview panel?
Or someone tell me my memory is wrong, and this is some kind of Mandala effect, and this was always the behavior.
Is there some application preference or setting to revert to the previous behavior?
(I do not currently have an installation with an older version — 2021, 22 — to show screen shots of the different behavior.)

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Alex Ion commented
Your concerns about the changed behavior in Acrobat's Output Preview panel are valid, and it does seem like a significant shift from the previous functionality. Here are some key points regarding your issue:
Expected Behavior (Prior Versions)
Previously, when switching the Simulation Profile in Output Preview, Acrobat would simulate how the existing ink values would appear in another printing condition, without altering the ink breakdown itself. This aligns with the intended purpose of a soft proof—showing how a given set of CMYK values would visually render in different environments.Current Behavior (2024 Version)
Now, when switching the Simulation Profile, the ink values themselves change while the on-screen appearance remains the same. This suggests that Acrobat is now converting colors instead of merely simulating them like—similar to how "Convert to Profile" works in Photoshop, rather than "Assign Profile."Impact on Prepress and Printing Workflows https://wordscramble.eu/
This new behavior disrupts workflows where the integrity of ink values is critical. Many printers do not apply color-managed conversions to PDFs, relying instead on the supplied CMYK numbers. If Acrobat changes those values when previewing a different profile, it introduces confusion and potential errors in prepress preparation.Possible Workarounds
Check if there's a hidden preference or toggle in Acrobat’s color management settings that allows reverting to the old behavior.
If your team relies on the previous functionality, consider reaching out to Adobe Support or the community forums to verify if this change was intentional or a bug.
If an older version is available elsewhere, testing the behavior side-by-side could confirm whether this shift happened in a recent update.
Is This the Mandela Effect?
Unlikely. Your description aligns with how Output Preview has traditionally worked. This change, if intentional, could be Adobe aligning Acrobat’s behavior with other Creative Cloud apps—but it seems like a misstep for users who rely on true soft-proofing.Next Steps
It would be useful to get confirmation from other prepress professionals or Adobe representatives. If this is a new feature rather than a bug, Adobe should provide an option to revert to the previous method. A formal feature request or bug report may be necessary if this impacts production workflows significantly.