ICC.1 v4 Specification

The latest update to the v4 specification was published May 2022. It incorporates three additional tags or types approved by ICC ballot since the last version, ICC.1:2010, together with items from the published errata and other minor changes. It includes a Coding Independent Code Points (CICP) tag and type for video signal identification, which supports HDR processing. It also includes a metadata tag.

See the specifications page for the current version ICC.1:2022 (Profile version 4.4.0.0) Image technology colour management - Architecture, profile format, and data structure

Co-publication with ISO

In 2003 the ICC entered into a 'Co-operative Agreement between ISO/TC130 and the International Color Consortium' which established the detailed procedures whereby ISO/TC130 (Graphic technology) and the International Color Consortium (ICC) cooperate to continue the development of a series of ISO standards based on the work of the ICC, including the ICC Profile Specification.

The initial version of the standard developed by the ICC has undergone various revisions. ICC.1:2004-08, was the first to be proposed as an International Standard under the Cooperative Agreement, and published as ISO 15076-1:2005 Image technology colour management - Architecture, profile format, and data structure. After further revision it was published as ISO 15076-1:2010 and ICC.1:2010, which are technically identical.

A list of v4 specifications with corresponding ISO versions is below.

ISO version	ICC version	Profile version	Main technical changes relative to previous version
ISO/DIS 15076-1:2024	ICC.1:2022	4.4	Addition of: cicpTag to enable HDR metadata to be carried in the profile metadataTag and dictType to enable flexible definition of additional metadata Clarified that PCSXYZ values can be negative Tag tables now required to define a contiguous sequence of unique tag elements, with no gaps parametricCurveType functions corrected
ISO 15076-1:2010	ICC.1:2010	4.3	Addition of: perceptual reference medium colour gamut new technology signatures floating-point device encoding range colorimetric intent image state tag profile sequence identifier tag Deletion of the mediaBlackPointTag PCSXYZ no longer limited to the PCS illuminant
ISO 15076-1:2005	ICC.1:2005	4.2	N/A

Previous versions

Other previous versions of the ICC.1 v4 specification are listed below:

ICC.1:2010-12
ICC.1:2010-12 Errata
ICC.1:2004-10
ICC.1:2004-10 Errata (Lists all changes made in the publication of ISO 15076:2005)
Specification ICC.1:2004-04 - Image technology colour management - Architecture, profile format, and data structure
Specification ICC.1:2003-09, File Format for Color Profiles (Version 4.1.0)
SpecificationICC.1:2001-12,File Format for Color Profiles (Version 4.0.0)

Copies of past ICC specifications are available on request

ICC.1 versions are generally backwards compatible, although newer features may not be available in older CMMs.

Versions prior to v4

The v4 profile format removed ambiguities present in previous versions of the specification (generally known as v2) and provided a more precise definition of the Profile Connection Space. More information about the advantages of the V4 specification can be found here.

These changes resulted in a reduction of major differences of interpretation and an improved predictability of performance of a profile in use. When pairs of v4 profiles are used they should always produce the same result - regardless of which CMM is used - unless one or both profiles includes processing elements that are not supported by the CMM. A summary of reasons to use the v4 specification is available.

V4 support

Almost all platforms and color management applications support ICC v4. You can test whether your system is v4-compatible.

V4 ICC profiles can be embedded in most still image file formats (see the Technical Note on embedding for details.

Tools for creating and using ICC profiles are listed here.

ICC.1 Specification in other languages

Japanese	JIS X 9207: 2012	JSA Web Store (search for document X9207)
		Translation of ISO 15076-1:2010