Downloads

Freeware, source codes, ICC profiles, PDF files ... here you will find various software for free colour.
We make our own tools available under CreativeCommons licence for free use and redistribution.

freeColour CIELAB HLC Colour Atlas (XL)

Our own premium product: The CIELAB HLC Colour Atlas according to DIN SPEC 16699 is the novel basis for all stages of professional colour communication - from design to the finished product, even with exact colour formulation (detailed description).

HLC Colour Atlas Small version with 2040 colours: the CIELAB colour space is run through on 36 pages in H/L/C-10 steps, the most important gamuts, sRGB/CMYK colour values, spectral data, ase file
Version 2.03 from 15.05.2018 (5.7 MB)
SHA-256 checksum: e0e9abcd68e8db3e5260620c313982a89bdda4628ca3b860de44a1e9f9f850bb
HLC-Colour-Atlas_EPV_A10_v2.03.zip
HLC Colour Atlas XL Large version with 13283 colours: the CIELAB colour space is traversed on 72 pages in H/L/C-5 steps, the most important gamuts, sRGB/CMYK colour values, spectral data
Version 1.2 from 30.01.2019 (18,5 MB)
SHA-256 checksum: 49d0bc10aeb90ee4b6f30d20305dd919caa37eca94e81a80ebf8e23b36ed1bdd
HLC-Colour-Atlas-XL_Set_EN_v1-2.zip

The components in detail:

  • PDF atlas: This corresponds in one level to the printed version available as a ring binder, and it contains further levels with the gamuts for sRGB, ISO Coated V2, Coated FOGRA39, PSO Coated V3 (FOGRA 51) and PSO Uncoated V3 (FOGRA52). The gamut levels can be used to quickly check whether a colour can be accurately represented in an output process. The PDF contains Lab colour data; you can print the atlas yourself, but the accuracy depends on your system and settings.
  • PDF with sRGB and CMYK colour values for all colours and software applications of all kinds. With Ctrl+F you can quickly search for colour names in this.
  • ASE colour library that can be loaded in Adobe software as colour library "HLC Colour Atlas". Contains all atlas colours with their exact Lab colour values (only 10-atlas version).
  • Measurement report of all colours (XLS). For each colour tone, it is indicated with which Lab colour value and which target/actual deviation it is hit with in the ring binder version (see below). The spectral data of this measurement are also included.
  • Spectral data adjusted to the exact HLC values for the determination of colour formulations for all colour tones of the printed atlas without deviation from the target (CXF, CGATS, XLS)

The high-precision proof prints produced in the Ring binder versions can be made at the proof GmbH, at CCVision and with grafipress can be ordered. State-of-the-art inkjet technology reproduces all colours in the calibrated reference print with an accuracy of DeltaE00<1 (average DeltaE00=0.5) - a printing accuracy unthinkable just a few years ago.


Freeware

3D colour spaceShows colour systems in the three-dimensional CIELAB colour space. Approx. 30 colour systems are displayed. You can see the colour possibilities and the gaps - also helpful for teaching purposes. With harmony calculations.Windows

Practice tools

Architectural Colours 2017In this hands-on workshop, our founding member Jürgen Opitz shows how to colour facades as realistically as possible in Adobe Photoshop. It consists of an explanatory pdf and an atn action file that summarises the commands used as a macro. See also the Professional articles.Architectural Colours 2017
Scribus Script "ColorchartPython script for the OpenSpource layout software Scribus, which transforms a Lab colour value table into individual DINA4 pages with 56 colour patches each. Made by Greg Pittman of the Scribus team. In the blog you will find a detailed description.colorchart_generic.zip
DeltaE Excel AddOnThe add-on by Edgardo García from Buenos Aires brings all DeltaE formulas (76, 94, 2000, CMC) into your Excel spreadsheet - it is easy to install and use, see Website.DeltaE Excel AddOn

Colour space overviews

RGB AtlasA complete overview of the (device-specific/native/unprofiled) RGB colour space, in A4, as A0 print sheets and as a separate, more finely divided overview of pastel shades. Print this file in your output situation and use it to sample colour templates in RGB so that you can use them in software without colour management.RGB Atlas (single pages).pdf
RGB Atlas (print sheets).pdf
RGB Atlas Pastels.pdf
CMYK atlas (10% steps)A complete overview of the (device) CMYK colour space, once in A4 and once as A0 print sheets. Print this file in your CMYK output situation (Postscript) and use it to sample colour artwork in CMYK so that you can use it in software without colour management.CMYK Atlas (single pages).pdf
CMYK Atlas (print sheets).pdf
CMY atlas (5% steps, up to 50%)A finer gradation through cyan, magenta, yellow up to 50% each, combined on one print sheet. Practical for sampling pastel shades or when printing processes print much too dark (thanks to Christian Schmidt for this data).cmy-atlas.pdf
cmy-atlas.zip
(CorelDraw X7)
Lab AtlasA complete overview of the Lab colour space. Print this file in your output situation and use it to sample colour templates in Lab so that you can use them in software. At the same time, it is a good overview of the Lab colour space, although RGB/CMYK gamuts or the spatial limitations of the CIELAB colour space are not shown.LAB Atlas (single pages).pdf

LAB Atlas (print sheets).pdf
CIE-HLC-CMYK GamutHLC are the better CIELAB coordinates because they are intuitively understandable as hue, lightness and saturation. The printed sheet shows the CIELAB gamut available in CMYK (FOGRA 39) in systematic HLC sequence on 36 individual pages - a total of 1032 colours.andruck_lab.pdf
CIE-HLC in 3.6 million colour tonesHere the HLC colour space is shown in steps of 1. H=1...360, L=0..100, C= 1..100 - a total of 3.6 million colour tones in a Lab-Tif file. The Photoshop colour gamut warning brings gamuts to light quickly and accurately.hlc_1_5.zip

Open Colour Systems Collection (OCSC) 2.0

More than 370 colour systems for integration in software or for individual use. The new version 2.0 contains (depending on the format) RGB or LAB colour values. In addition, there are plain text files and photos of the fans - for free use and free distribution under a CreativeCommons licence.

Adobe Swatch ExchangeAASE files for Adobe and Corel products
(SHA1-Prüfsumme: fea350149e2b95af55f36e283fe597f279d3f79c)
OCSC_20_ASE
GIMP PaletteGPL files for GIMP, Krita, Calligra Office, Inkscape and MyPaint
(SHA1-Prüfsumme: c0eefb3a74f658c9c201d5671b4af6a085650cbb)
OCSC_20_GPL
SBZSBC files for Swatchbooker and Scribus 1.5.x
(SHA1-Prüfsumme: 6b2bab7dde9e5fe9e8778ee9f79f31edcaa8cef8)
OCSC_20_SBZ
SOCSOC files for LibreOffice, OpenOffice.org and Apache OpenOffice
(SHA1-Prüfsumme: 318d8fbaf391b0ec39fa433e807e3ec658381376)
OCSC_20_SOC
Scribus XMLXML files for Scribus 1.4.x
(SHA1-Prüfsumme: da456792dc89445022ab4ae1af3f5ccedc722cd6)
OCSC_20_ScrXML
CLFLAB colour values as plain text files (.clf)
(SHA1-Prüfsumme: e65fd94db7f0d6484df9ce0cf0288ecd328ec655)
OCSC_20_CLF
OCSC 2.0 complete packagewith above palettes as well as colour fan photos and info, RGB colour value files, OCSC logo
(18.6 MB; SHA1 checksum: e65fd94db7f0d6484df9ce0cf0288ecd328ec655)
OCSC 2.0

Colour value conversion with Excel/VBA

Lab/HLC (Excel)HLC are the Lab Polar Coordinates, i.e. the far more comprehensible form of CIELAB colour values as Hue/Lightness/Chroma. Since CIELAB is not limited to gamuts, calculates in a perceptually correct way, and since there are no copyright holders standing in the way of its use, we consider it to be the best colour model. It has gained acceptance in many areas of the industry, but not yet among normal users. With this table you can convert hundreds of Lab colour values into understandable HLC form and vice versa in no time.labhlc.xls
CIE basic tablesThe Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) provides free of charge various tables that one needs for programming spectral colours. These include the CIE spectral value functions (2°/10° Observer) and illuminant specifications (D50/D65 etc.) in several resolutions (1/5/10nm steps). A perfect treasure trove for anyone who programmes colour.RIT - Useful Colour Data

Source codes

Tom Pažourek
Colourful!
Open source VB.NET library for colour conversion. It calculates all known colour spaces, including sRGB, Lab, HLC. Also exotic ones like Luv/LCHuv. Various colour spaces: DeltaE76/94/2000/CMC. Can also be built into commercial products licence-free. By Tom Pažourek, a developer from Brno/Czech Republic.Colourful
Pascal Getreuer
Colorspace
C/C++ library that converts between sRGB, HSV, HSL, CIE XYZ, CIE L*a*b* (CIELAB), CIE L*ch (HLC) and many others. Can be built into a C/C++ program or compiled as a MATLAB MEX function. BSD licence.Colorspace
Greg Taylor
Python Colormath
Python library that converts colours between all major colour spaces (RGB, Lab, HLC, etc.) and offers various DeltaE-
Values calculated. Also supports spectral data. BSD licence.
Python Colormath

ICC profiles

The most important ICC profiles that are used in practice are stored here.

sRGBStandard RGB according to HP/Microsoft has become established in recent years for RGB representation on monitors and printers - although it covers a smaller colour space than, for example, CIE RGB. It can be regarded as a general RGB standard and is pre-installed in many operating systems.sRGB profiles of the ICC
European Colour Initiative (ECI)The profile "eciRGB v2" (recommended as working colour space for high-end photography and pre-press) and other ICC profiles for various printing conditions can be found here in the download area. Also useful additional information.ICC profiles of the ECI
bvdm ProcessStandard Offset PrintingThe German Printing and Media Industries Federation (bvdm) recommends in its MediaStandard Print the profiles "PSO Coated v3" (FOGRA51, for multi-coated, moderately lightened papers) and "PSO Uncoated v3″ (FOGRA52, for uncoated, heavily lightened wood-free white papers). To be on the safe side, ask your service providers if they have already switched from PSO v2 (FOGRA39 etc.) to PSO v3 before you create your print data with the new profiles.PSO Coated v3 (ECI)
PSO Uncoated v3 (ECI)
colourmanagement.orgComprehensive collection of ICC profiles for numerous application areas, generated from Fogra characterisation data (status PSO v2, FOGRA39 etc.) with software from basICColor (Karl Koch, Penzberg). In addition, the website offers test images for the Lab colour space and for monitor calibration.basICColor profiles
Profile packages from AdobeThe colour profiles supplied by Adobe in its products are also available as a separate download. The package includes "Adobe RGB (1998)" and also the widely used ICC profile "Coated FOGRA39 (ISO 12647-2:2004)" for sheetfed offset, which, however, does not comply with the now current standard ISO 12647-2:2013 (characterised by FOGRA51).Adobe profiles for Windows
Adobe profiles for Mac

Your download

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