ArgyllCMS vs GMG ColorServer

ArgyllCMS is a free, open-source ICC-compatible color management system for creating profiles and calibrating devices. Its command-line tools support scanners, cameras, film recorders, displays, and RGB, CMY and CMYK printers. It can create device-link profiles with options such as video calibration standards and 3D LUTs, and work with spectral samples, selectable illuminants and observer types, and paper fluorescent-whitener compensation. Color conversion tools handle 8-bit raster data and fully accurate 16-bit conversion. Documentation lists direct support for measurement instruments from JETI, Klein, X-Rite and Calibrite, DataColor and other manufacturers; some chart results can be converted into Argyll CGATS format. ArgyllCMS runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, but does not include a graphical interface. DisplayCAL, The Little Argyll GUI and CoCa are listed as front ends that use it. The package is licensed under AGPLv3; commercial licensing is available for code copyrighted by Graeme Gill through ArgyllPRO. On Linux, native display calibration and profiling under Wayland are not currently supported; the maker recommends X11 for color-managed displays.

GMG ColorServer converts print data from varied sources into a selected output color space for digital and analog printing. Its MX technology processes CMYK, RGB, ECG, and multicolor files while preserving the black channel and stabilizing sensitive color areas. Spot colors can be converted into the chosen output space, including fixed digital press sets such as CMYK or CMYKOGV, and extended-gamut workflows can use orange, green, and violet inks. A client-server architecture distributes processing across connected machines and supports simultaneous jobs. GMG lists workflow connections with ESKO, DALIM, Enfocus, and Kodak, plus API and XML job-ticket hot-folder integration. The software supports printer profiling and ICC profile management. Listed systems are Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, 2022, and 2025, and macOS 10.15 or later. OpenColor profiling requires version 3.0 for compatibility with the downloadable ColorServer version. Licenses are requested separately; upgrading from 5.x to 5.7 needs a new license. Pricing is on request.