ISO 15076-1:2010

Overview

ISO 15076-1:2010 (based on ICC.1:2010) defines a cross‑platform colour profile format and the architecture for exchanging intended colour image processing of digital data. The standard specifies the required reference colour spaces (PCS), profile file structure (header, tag table, tag data), and the data types and tags used to describe device and image colour behavior. ISO 15076-1:2010 is the internationally adopted ICC profile specification for consistent colour management across operating systems, applications and devices.

Keywords: ISO 15076-1:2010, ICC profile, colour management, profile format, profile connection space, PCSXYZ, rendering intents.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Profile architecture and format
  • Profile header, tag table and tag data structures required for ICC profiles.
  • Conformance rules for profile creation and interpretation.
• Profile Connection Space (PCS) and encodings
  • PCS definitions (XYZ and Lab encodings) and conversions between PCSXYZ and PCSLAB.
  • Device encoding ranges including support for floating‑point device encodings.
• Rendering intents
  • Defined intents (perceptual, colorimetric, etc.) and their role in mapping colours between devices.
  • Addition of perceptual intent reference medium gamut and a colorimetric intent image state tag in this edition.
• Tags and tag types
  • Comprehensive list of required and optional tags (measurementType, lutAToBType/lutBToAType, chromaticityType, namedColor2Type, multiLocalizedUnicodeType, etc.).
  • Definitions of basic number types and complex data structures used in profiles.
• Conformance and computational models
  • Rules for validating profiles and informative annexes describing computational models and recommended practices.
• Notable technical changes in this edition
  • New technology signatures, floating‑point device encoding support, profile sequence identifier tag; removal of mediaBlackPointTag; PCSXYZ not limited to a single illuminant.

Practical Applications and Who Uses It

• Who uses it
  • Colour scientists, imaging software and OS developers, print and device manufacturers, prepress and printing houses, photographers and digital artists, and anyone implementing colour management systems (CMS).
• Common applications
  • Creating ICC profiles for scanners, cameras, displays and printers.
  • Embedding and exchanging profiles with images to preserve intended appearance across workflows.
  • Soft‑proofing, colour conversion, and device calibration in professional printing and multimedia production.
  • Ensuring consistent brand colour reproduction across media and devices.

Related standards and interoperability

• Technically identical to ICC.1:2010; interoperates with CIE, ISO and IEC colour measurement standards used for device characterization.
• See informative annexes for guidance on embedding profiles, PCS behavior and relationships with PostScript color systems.

This standard is essential for robust, interoperable colour management - search terms to use: ISO 15076-1:2010, ICC profile specification, colour profile architecture, profile tags, rendering intent, PCSXYZ.