ArgyllCMS
7.4#1 in display calibration softwareFree planFree planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitArgyllCMS vs OpenColorIO
OpenColorIO
7.3#2 in color management softwareFree planFree planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | ArgyllCMS | OpenColorIO |
|---|---|---|
| Build requirements | Compiling requires Jam or a compatible tool, a C compiler, and platform development libraries such as X11 libraries on Linux. | Source builds require a supported C++17–23 compiler, CMake 3.14 or newer, and an internet connection for dependency retrieval. |
| Founded | 2000 | 2003 |
| Installation | There is no installer or installation script; users manually place executables, configure PATH, and set up USB instruments. | The current documentation says prebuilt libraries are not provided as downloadable artifacts apart from package managers; Python bindings and command-line tools can be installed from PyPI. |
| Integrations | The maker lists DisplayCAL, The Little Argyll GUI, and CoCa as GUI front ends that use ArgyllCMS. | The supported-application list includes Blender, Nuke, Maya, Houdini, Katana, Mari, Silhouette, Substance Designer, Unreal Engine, V-Ray, and many other tools. |
| Licence | Most source and executables are under the Affero GNU Version 3 licence, with source-sharing obligations including network use. | OpenColorIO is distributed under the permissive BSD-3-Clause license. |
| License | The package is licensed under AGPLv3, with commercial licensing available for code copyrighted by Graeme Gill through ArgyllPRO. | OpenColorIO is licensed under the BSD-3-Clause license. |
| Purpose | ArgyllCMS is an open-source ICC-compatible color management system for creating profiles and calibrating devices. | OpenColorIO is a color management solution geared toward motion picture production, especially visual effects and computer animation. |
ArgyllCMS plans
- ArgyllCMSFree
- Commercial/non-AGPL licensingPriced on request
OpenColorIO plans
- OpenColorIOFree
- OpenColorIO Python packageFree
Pick ArgyllCMS if…
ArgyllCMS suits users who need device profiling or calibration and are comfortable using command-line tools. Linux users with color-managed displays should note its Wayland limitation.
Pick OpenColorIO if…
It suits artists and studios managing color in motion-picture, visual-effects, or animation pipelines, as well as developers building color-management frameworks. Teams can use the Python API to integrate a pipeline or modify a configuration.