Windows Color System

Color management technologies in Windows help users to consistently reproduce color across scanners, cameras, displays, printers, and applications. Windows Image Color Management (ICM) 2.0 is the API that applications use to take advantage of color management capabilities in Windows. Windows supports using color profiles that comply with ICC.1:1998-09 File Format for Color Profiles to support flexible, state-of-the-art color control.

sRGB Color Space Profile. sRGB is the default color space in Windows, based on the IEC 61966-2-1 standard. An sRGB-compliant device does not have to provide a profile or other support for color management to work well.

Related Blog:

Michael Bourgoin on Color at Microsoft

Color Management and Windows Vista

	Supporting Advanced Color in Print Drivers
	Windows Color System - Use Cases
	Windows Color System: The Next Generation Color Management System
	XPS and Color Printing Enhancements in Windows Vista
	Evolution in the Microsoft Color Management Ecosystem [2.2 MB]
	How WCS in Windows Vista works with Drivers and Applications [1.6 MB]
	Windows Color System and API: An Overview [1.2 MB]

Color Management

Microsoft Standard CMYK Profile

WDK Resources on MSDN

Windows Vista Display Drivers

Windows Color System Licensing Details

	Royalty-Free WCS Specification License Agreement
	WCS Profiles & Schemas License Agreement

Resources

	Industry Specification References for Windows Logo Program
	Driver Installation
	Driver Signing Requirements for Windows
	PnP & Power Management
	Support for Developer Kits and Tools
	Scalable Networking Pack - NDIS 5.2 Driver Kit (DDK) [16.1 MB]

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