Request to restore full ICC profile support (LUT-based display profiles) in macOS ColorSync

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Created 3w

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Dear Apple Color Management Team,

I’m a professional visual creator working on color-critical photo and graphic projects using macOS (currently 26.1 Tahoe).

In recent macOS releases, LUT-based ICC display profiles (such as XYZ LUT + Matrix types generated by DisplayCAL or professional spectrophotometers) can no longer be installed or activated via ColorSync.

This limitation significantly affects professional workflows in photography, graphic design, prepress, and video color grading — fields that rely on precise display profiling.

The current workaround (converting LUT profiles to simple shaper/matrix ICC v2) results in less accurate tone response and color reproduction, particularly in the dark range and wide-gamut displays.

I kindly request Apple to restore or re-enable the ability to install and use ICC v2/v4 LUT-based display profiles under ColorSync, as was possible on macOS Monterey and Ventura.

This would allow professionals to continue using trusted calibration tools such as DisplayCAL, X-Rite i1Profiler, and Calibrite Profiler to achieve accurate color management.

macOS is widely used in professional creative industries, and restoring this feature would be a huge help for countless photographers, designers, and colorists.

Thank you for your attention and commitment to professional users.

Best regards, Richárd Deutsch Professional Photographer https://riccio.hu/ MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, macOS 26.1)

Answered by DTS Engineer in 866498022

Hello. I talked to engineering about your question and LUT based display profiles have never been supported on Apple Platforms.

You may wish to file an enhancement request asking for support for these types of profiles. You can file an enhancement request as a feedback report.

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Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

3w

Accepted Answer

Our engineering teams need to investigate this issue, as resolution may involve changes to Apple's software. Please file a bug report, include a small Xcode project and some directions that can be used to reproduce the problem, and post the Feedback number here once you do. If you post the Feedback number here I'll check the status next time I do a sweep of forums posts where I've suggested bug reports.

Bug Reporting: How and Why? has tips on creating your bug report.

1

Answer 2

ricciohu OP

3w

Thanks for the guidance. I’ve submitted the report.

Feedback ID: FB21014376

The package includes:

ColorSyncProfileTest project
Dummy LUT ICC profile
Working matrix ICC profile
Steps to reproduce
Terminal output showing fallback ICC behavior

Let me know if you need any additional diagnostics or system traces.

0

Answer 3

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

2w

Recommended

Hello. I talked to engineering about your question and LUT based display profiles have never been supported on Apple Platforms.

You may wish to file an enhancement request asking for support for these types of profiles. You can file an enhancement request as a feedback report.

0

Answer 4

ricciohu OP

2w

Hi,

Thank you for the response.

Can you please clarify the following? 1. LUT-based display ICC profiles did load and function on macOS 10.7 through macOS 13, including profiles generated by DisplayCAL, X-Rite i1Profiler and ArgyllCMS. • They were selectable in Display Preferences • ColorSync showed the LUTs in A2B0/B2A0 • Measurement reports confirmed the LUT corrections were applied • This behavior regressed starting around macOS 14 2. If LUT profiles were “never supported”, can Apple confirm: • Why they worked for over a decade? • Why ColorSync accepted them? • Why the system UI allowed activating them? • Why professional color workflows relied on them successfully? 3. If LUT profiles are now intentionally unsupported, can Apple provide: • An official statement • Updated developer documentation • Recommended alternative APIs or workflows for users needing high accuracy calibration?

Given how many professionals rely on LUT-based profiling, this is critical information.

FB21014376 Thank you.

0

Answer 5

ricciohu OP

1w

Hi, following up on this issue. The problem persists in macOS 26.1 and the system still loads fallback profiles instead of LUT ICC profiles. Is there any update on the engineering review? Feedback ID: FB21014376

0