The ISO TC130 committee that sets global standards for the graphic arts has adopted the X-Rite Color Exchange Format version 3 (CxF3) as the new standard (ISO 17972-1:2015) for colour data exchange and verification.
X-Rite endorses ISO’s goal of harmonising technical specifications for products and services that make industries more efficient by communicating colour electronically in a global colour supply chain, and made its technology available to ISO without any restrictions
The CxF3 format is defined in an open way so that all aspects of a colour can be communicated, even when the application and the colour communication features required are unknown. This means that every software vendor implementing and supporting CxF3 is able to easily and accurately extend the information throughout global workflows.
“Physically correct and accurate colour communication is critical to an efficient workflow in the graphic arts,” said Ray Cheydleur, printing and imaging product portfolio manager at X-Rite. “X-Rite's CxF3, and now ISO CxF, ensures an accurate and efficient exchange of digital standards, measurements and metadata. The publication of this standard provides a framework for sharing colour data at all steps in the workflow – from brand owner through to production. Many companies and products have already benefited from CxF3, and now that it is an ISO standard, many more will benefit in the future.”
X-Rite has a website where the CxF3 specification and examples are publicly available for download (http://www.colorexchangeformat.com)