Swatches and free software

Color swatch file formats

FeaturesAdobeQuarkCorelAutoCADRALRIFFGimpsK1OpenOffice.org
acbacblacoactaseacfbcfclrclbqclcplpalpcpacbclfbcspalgplsplskpsoc
File
Formatbinxmlbinbinbintextbinbinbinxmlbintextbinxmltextbinbintexttextxmlxml
Byte-orderBEBEBEBEBELE?LE?LELE
Palette
ID✓✓✓✓
Name✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
Multilingual✓
Version✓✓✓
Description✓✓✓
Copyright✓✓✓
Date created✓
Colors
Groups✓
Name✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
Pre-/Suffix✓✓✓✓✓
Multiple Pre-/Suffix✓
Available color modelsRGB CMYK LabRGB CMYK LabRGB CMYK HSV Lab GrayRGBRGB CMYK Lab GrayRGB CMYK Lab hifiRGB CMYK Lab hifiRGBa HSVRGB CMYK Lab HexachromeCMYK CMY RGB HSB HLS Gray B/W YIQ Lab HexachromeCMYKRGBLabLabRGBRGBRGBRGB CMYKRGB
Models per color11111332∞211111111
Different color models
in one palette		✓✓
Values cyphering✓
Spot✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
Display
External filecui
Columns✓✓✓✓
Rows✓✓✓✓✓
Line jumps✓✓✓

Proprietary formats

Binary formats

PAL (RIFF)

Official information
Unofficial information
Unofficial information

ACB (Adobe Color Book)

Adobe Photoshop 7 + Adobe Creative Suite 3

Official information
Unofficial information

ACO (Adobe Color Swatch)

Adobe Photoshop

Official information
Unofficial information

ACT (Adobe Color Table)

Adobe Photoshop / Macromedia Fireworks

Official information

CS2 added 2*int16 at the end of the file. The first one is the number of colors, the second one I don't know.

Fireworks can read ACT files bigger than 768 bytes.

ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange)

Adobe Creative Suite 3

Byte-order: Big-endian

Affiche russe.ase (Adobe Illustrator CS3)

0000000   41 53 45 46 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 39 c0 01 00 00   ASEF.......9....
0000010   00 22 00 10 00 41 00 66 00 66 00 69 00 63 00 68   ."...A.f.f.i.c.h
.......
0000b20   43 4d 59 4b 3e 68 e8 e8 3f 6c ec e9 3e f8 f8 e8   CMYK>h..?l..>...
0000b30   3d 50 d0 60 00 02 c0 02 00 00 00 00               =P.`........

File signature 4*char (ASEF)
Version 2*int16 (1.0)
Number of blocks 1*int32
Blocks

Blocks

.......
0000100   00 00 00 00 c0 01 00 00 00 22 00 10 00 41 00 66   ........."...A.f
0000110   00 66 00 69 00 63 00 68 00 65 00 20 00 72 00 75   .f.i.c.h.e. .r.u
0000120   00 73 00 73 00 65 00 20 00 32 00 00 00 01 00 00   .s.s.e. .2......
.......
0000220   00 00 00 01 00 00 00 3c 00 12 00 43 00 3d 00 30   .......<...C.=.0
0000230   00 20 00 4d 00 3d 00 36 00 20 00 59 00 3d 00 31   . .M.=.6. .Y.=.1
0000240   00 30 00 30 00 20 00 4b 00 3d 00 30 00 00 43 4d   .0.0. .K.=.0..CM
0000250   59 4b 00 00 00 00 3d 75 c2 90 3f 80 00 00 00 00   YK....=u..?.....
0000260   00 00 00 02 00 01 00 00 00 42 00 15 00 43 00 3d   .........B...C.=
.......
00002e0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 3f 80 00 00 00 02 c0 02   ........?.......
00002f0   00 00 00 00 c0 01 00 00 00 22 00 10 00 41 00 66   ........."...A.f
.......

Block type (0xc001 ⇒ Group start, 0xc002 ⇒ Group end, 0x0001 ⇒ Color entry)
Block length 1*int32
Group/Color name 0-terminated string of length (uint16) double-byte characters
Color model 4*char (CMYK, RGB, LAB or Gray)
Color values CMYK ⇒ 4*float32 / RGB & LAB ⇒ 3*float32 / Gray ⇒ 1*float32
Color type 1*int16 (0 ⇒ Global, 1 ⇒ Spot, 2 ⇒ Normal)

BCF (Binary Color Format)

Aldus/Adobe PageMaker + Aldus/Macromedia/Adobe Freehand + Adobe FrameMaker

Byte-order: Big-endian | Text encoding: MacRoman

ACF 1.0

DIC-PCN.BCF (Adobe Freehand MXa)

0000000   41 43 46 20 31 2e 30 00 44 49 43 20 43 4f 4c 4f   ACF 1.0.DIC COLO
0000010   52 20 47 55 49 44 45 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   R GUIDE.........
0000020   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 31 2e 30 00 00 00 00 00   ........1.0.....
0000030   a9 44 61 69 6e 69 70 70 6f 6e 20 49 6e 6b 20 26   .Dainippon Ink &
0000040   20 43 68 65 6d 69 63 61 6c 73 00 00 00 00 00 00   Chemicals......
0000050   50 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 43 6f 6c 6f 72 20 4e 6f   Process Color No
0000060   74 65 2a 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 63 6f 6c   te* computer col
.......
0000230   70 70 6f 6e 20 49 6e 6b 20 26 20 43 68 65 6d 69   ppon Ink & Chemi
0000240   63 61 6c 73 20 49 6e 63 2e 2c 20 31 39 39 31 00   cals Inc., 1991.
0000250   00 02 00 05 00 04 05 08 44 49 43 00 00 00 00 00   ........DIC.....
0000260   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 01 00 00   ................
0000270   00 02 e3 56 e2 a0 e4 1f 00 00 28 f5 2b 84 00 00   ...V......(.+...
0000280   ff ff d7 0a d4 7b 00 01 31 70 00 00 00 00 00 00   .....{..1p......
.......
0011210   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0011220   00 00                                             ..

Version 8*char 0-terminated string (ACF 1.0, ACF 2.1 or BCF 2.0)
Library name 32*char 0-terminated string
Library version 8*char 0-terminated string
Copyright 32*char 0-terminated string
About Message 512*char 0-terminated string
Names format 1*int16 (1 ⇒ full, 2 ⇒ partial)
Number of rows 1*int16
Number of columns 1*int16
Number of color entries 1*int16
Prefix 12*char 0-terminated string
Suffix 4*char 0-terminated string
Palette type 1*int16 (0 ⇒ ???, 1 ⇒ Spot, 2 ⇒ Process, 8 ⇒ Mixed, 16 ⇒ HiFi, 32 ⇒ ???)
Available color models 3*int16 (XYZ, CMYK, RGB)
Preferred color model 1*int16 (1 ⇒ RGB, 2 ⇒ CMYK, 8 ⇒ HiFi, 16 ⇒Mixed)
Color entries

Color entries

0000270   00 02 e3 56 e2 a0 e4 1f 00 00 28 f5 2b 84 00 00   ...V......(.+...
0000280   ff ff d7 0a d4 7b 00 01 31 70 00 00 00 00 00 00   .....{..1p......
0000290   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
00002a0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e3 ae e0 5b f3 32 02 8f   ...........[.2..

Color values 3*int16 (XYZ) + 4*int16 (CMYK) + 3*int16 (RGB)
Color type 1*int16
Color name 32*char 0-terminated string

ACF 2.1/BCF 2.0

DIC-PCN.BCF (Adobe PageMaker 7)

0000000   41 43 46 20 32 2e 31 00 44 49 43 20 43 4f 4c 4f   ACF 2.1.DIC COLO
.......   (same as ACF 1.0)
0000270   00 02 00 01 43 68 65 6d 69 63 61 6c 73 2c 20 49   ....Chemicals, I
0000280   6e 63 2e 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 70 79 72   nc. is the copyr
.......
00002c0   2e 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   . ..............
00002d0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00   ................
00002e0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
00002f0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 57 00 0b 00 0d 00 00 28 f5   .......W......(.
.......

PANHEXC.BCF (Adobe PageMaker 7)

0000000   42 43 46 20 32 2e 30 00 50 41 4e 54 4f 4e 45 a8   BCF 2.0.PANTONE.
.......
0000270   00 08 00 00 00 01 00 06 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000280   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000290   01 68 20 20 30 2e 30 30 30 30 30 00 31 37 35 2e   .h 0.00000.175.
00002a0   30 30 30 30 30 00 03 ac 48 65 78 61 63 68 72 6f   00000...Hexachro
.......
00003d0   20 20 20 20 20 20 00 5c ff fa 00 54 05 1e 00 00   .\...T....
.......

The first 626 bytes are the same as in version ACF 1.0
About Message extender 1*int16: if this is 1, it's followed by a 100*char 0-terminated string to be added to the About Message
HiFi inks ... 1*int16: if this is 1, an Ink description block is added at the end of the header
Number of HiFi inks 1*int16
Lab availability 1*int16
?????? 24 bytes... always 0 in the files I've analyzed, except for the last 2 bytes in the swatches that contain HiFi inks
Ink descriptions

Ink descriptions

0000290   01 68 20 20 30 2e 30 30 30 30 30 00 31 37 35 2e   .h  0.00000.175.
00002a0   30 30 30 30 30 00 03 ac 48 65 78 61 63 68 72 6f   00000...Hexachro
00002b0   6d 65 20 59 65 6c 6c 6f 77 00 20 20 20 20 20 20   me Yellow.      
00002c0   20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 31 35 2e 30 30 30 30            15.0000

Angle 10*char 0-terminated string
Frequency 10*char 0-terminated string
Density 1*int16
Name 32*char 0-terminated string

Color entries

If Palette type < 8: same as ACF 1.0 except that the first group of color values contains Lab values instead of XYZ.

Else:

00003d0   20 20 20 20 20 20 00 5c ff fa 00 54 05 1e 00 00   .\...T....
00003e0   eb 84 00 00 ff ff dc 28 14 7a 00 06 00 00 ff ff   .......(.z......
00003f0   00 01 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 04 00 00   ................
0000400   00 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 08   ................
0000410   48 45 58 2e 20 59 65 6c 6c 6f 77 00 00 00 00 00   HEX. Yellow.....
0000420   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000430   00 46 00 33 00 52 00 00 73 32 eb 84 00 00 ff ff   .F.3.R..s2......

Color values 3*int16 (XYZ) + 4*int16 (CMYK) + 3*int16 (RGB)
Number of HiFi inks 1*int16
HiFi inks values 8*(1*int16 for the ink id + 1*int16 for the value)
Color type 1*int16
Preferred color model 1*int16
Color name 32*char 0-terminated string

CLR (Flash Color Set)

Macromedia/Adobe Flash

Byte-order: Little-endian

tone.clr (Adobe Flash CS3)

0000000   ff ff 00 00 0a 00 43 43 6f 6c 6f 72 4c 69 73 74   ......CColorList
0000010   fc 00 ff ff 00 00 09 00 43 43 6f 6c 6f 72 44 65   ........CColorDe
0000020   66 03 00 00 00 ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 80   f...............
0000030   03 00 00 00 ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 80 03   ................
.......
0000ed0   ef 00 90 00 03 80 03 33 ff 00 ff 00 00 48 00 ef   .......3.....H..
0000ee0   00 78 00 00 01 80 07 00 03 80 03 00 00 00 ff 10   .x..............
0000ef0   00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01   ................
.......
0001060   66 00 ff b3 ff cc 00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 00 00   f...............
0001070   00 00 00 00                                       ....

ff ff 00 00 no idea what this is... but it is...
CColorList ...
Number of colors 1*int16
CColorDef ...
ff ff 00 00 ...
Color entries separated by 0x0380 and followed by 0x00 0x0180
Number of gradients 1*int16
Gradient entries separated by 0x0380 and followed by 0x00

Color entries

0000020   66 03 00 00 00 ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 80   f...............

Version ? int8 (3,4)
Color values 4*int8 (RGBa) + 0x0000 + 3*int16 (HSV)

Gradient entries

0000ee0   00 78 00 00 01 80 07 00 03 80 03 00 00 00 ff 10   .x..............
0000ef0   00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01   ................
0000f00   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 ff ff ff ff ff   ................
0000f10   00 00 00 ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 80 03 00 00 00   ................

0000fe0   00 00 03 80 03 00 00 00 ff 10 00 00 00 01 00 00   ................
0000ff0   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0001000   00 00 00 07 00 ff 00 00 ff 2a ff ff 00 ff 5d 00   .........*....].
0001010   ff 00 ff 7f 00 ff ff ff aa 00 00 ff ff d4 ff 00   ................
0001020   ff ff ff ff 00 00 ff 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 80 03   ................

0000030   80 01 00 03 80 04 ad d0 1e ff 12 00 00 00 01 00   ................
0000040   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000050   00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 00 ad d0   ................
0000060   1e ff ff aa aa aa ff 30 00 b4 00 70 00 00         .......0...p..

Blank parts are the same in every file I've analysed

Version ? int8 (3,4) if 4, 8 bytes are added after the color count
Base color 4*int8 (RGBa)
Gradient type 1*int8 (16 ⇒ Linear, 18 ⇒ Radial)
Number of stops
Gradient attributes 1*int8 (Overflow mode: 0 ⇒ Extend, 4 ⇒ Reflect, 8 ⇒ Repeat | +1 ⇒ Linear RGB)
Stop offset 1*int8
Stop color 4*int8 (RGBa)
6 bytes I don't know what they mean

CPL (Corel Palette)

CorelDraw family

Byte-order: Little-endian

Part of this was guessed thanks to the CMX 8 file format specifications. The rule for choosing single or double-byte string encoding as well as single or double color description is pure guess so it might be inaccurate. All I can say is it works with all the file I've analyzed...

Color models

1Pantone5+6[Pantone ID] 7+8[Pantone Density]
2CMYK bytes 5-8 [0..100]
3CMYK bytes 5-8 [0..255]
4CMY bytes 5-7 [0..255]
5RGB bytes 5-7 BGR[0..255]
6HSB bytes 5-8 5+6=long H[0..360] SB[0..255]
7HLS bytes 5-8 5+6=long H[0..360] LS[0..255]
9Grayscale byte 5 [0..255]
10B/W
11YIQ bytes 5-7 [0..255]
12Lab bytes 5[0..255] 6-7[-128..127]
15Hexachrome bytes 3-8 YOMCGK[0..255]
17CMYK bytes 5-8 [0..255]
18Lab bytes 5-7 [0..255]
20Registration bytes 5-8 [0..100]
21Custom inks -> RGB
Version 5-8

rgbstd.cpl (CorelDRAW X4)

0000000   cc bc 08 01 05 00 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000010   09 31 00 30 00 30 00 25 00 42 00 6c 00 61 00 63   .1.0.0.%.B.l.a.c
.......
0002280   35 00 47 00 32 00 35 00 35 00 42 00 32 00 35 00   5.G.2.5.5.B.2.5.
0002290   35 00                                             5.

Version 2 bytes (ccbc/ccdc)
Number of color entries 1*int16
Color entries

Color entries

0000000   cc bc 08 01 05 00 07 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000010   09 31 00 30 00 30 00 25 00 42 00 6c 00 61 00 63   .1.0.0.%.B.l.a.c
0000020   00 6b 00 05 00 07 00 00 00 00 00 19 19 19 00 08   .k..............

Color model 1*int16
Color type 1*int16
Color values 8 bytes
Color name string of length (int8) single-byte (ccdc) or double-byte (ccbc) characters

Version 9-X3

userinks.cpl (CorelDRAW X4)

0000000   dd dc 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 26 00 00 00 01 00   ..........&.....
0000010   00 00 6b 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 6d 00 00 00 03 00   ..k.......m.....
0000020   00 00 18 01 00 00 22 43 00 6f 00 75 00 6c 00 65   ......"C.o.u.l.e
0000030   00 75 00 72 00 73 00 20 00 6e 00 6f 00 6e 00 20   .u.r.s. .n.o.n.
0000040   00 71 00 75 00 61 00 64 00 72 00 69 00 20 00 70   .q.u.a.d.r.i. .p
0000050   00 65 00 72 00 73 00 6f 00 6e 00 6e 00 61 00 6c   .e.r.s.o.n.n.a.l
0000060   00 69 00 73 00 e9 00 65 00 73 00 10 00 05 00 15   .i.s...e.s......
0000070   00 10 00 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 64 0a 4e 00 6f 00   ...d......d.N.o.
.......
0000110   6f 00 72 00 65 00 6c 00 05 00 01 00 02 00 03 00   o.r.e.l.........
0000120   04 00 05 00                                       ....

panpastu.cpl (CorelDRAW X4)

0000000   cd bc 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1e 00 00 00 01 00   ................
0000010   00 00 71 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 73 00 00 00 29 50   ..q.......s...)P
0000020   00 41 00 4e 00 54 00 4f 00 4e 00 45 00 20 00 50   .A.N.T.O.N.E. .P
0000030   00 61 00 73 00 74 00 65 00 6c 00 20 00 43 00 6f   .a.s.t.e.l. .C.o
0000040   00 6c 00 6f 00 72 00 73 00 20 00 55 00 6e 00 63   .l.o.r.s. .U.n.c
0000050   00 6f 00 61 00 74 00 65 00 64 00 20 00 2d 00 20   .o.a.t.e.d. .-.
0000060   00 43 00 6f 00 72 00 65 00 6c 00 20 00 31 00 30   .C.o.r.e.l. .1.0
0000070   00 16 00 7e 00 01 00 00 00 02 00 05 00 00 00 00   ...~............
0000080   00 04 04 24 00 0c 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 f1 fa 27   ...$...........'
.......
0001ec0   00 20 00 39 00 35 00 38 00 33 00 20 00 43 00 56   . .9.5.8.3. .C.V
0001ed0   00 55 00                                          .U.

Version 2 bytes (cdbc/cddc/dddc)
Number of header blocks 1*int32
Header ID 1*int32 (0 ⇒ Name, 1 ⇒ Palette type, 2 ⇒ Number of colors, 3 ⇒ Special inks)
Header Offset 1*int32
Palette name string of length (int8) single-byte (cddc) or double-byte (cdbc/dddc) characters
Palette type 1*int16
Number of color entries 1*int16
Color entries starts after header 2
Number of special inks 1*int8
Ink position *int8

Color entries

If Version is cdbc or cddc AND Palette type is < 38 and not 5 or 16:

0000070   00 16 00 7e 00 01 00 00 00 02 00 05 00 00 00 00   ...~............
0000080   00 04 04 24 00 0c 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 f1 fa 27   ...$...........'
0000090   00 18 50 00 41 00 4e 00 54 00 4f 00 4e 00 45 00   ..P.A.N.T.O.N.E.
00000a0   20 00 59 00 65 00 6c 00 6c 00 6f 00 77 00 20 00   .Y.e.l.l.o.w. .
00000b0   20 00 30 00 31 00 33 00 31 00 20 00 43 00 56 00   .0.1.3.1. .C.V.
00000c0   55 00 02 00 00 00 02 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 02 22   U.............."

Color ID 1*int32
Color model 1 1*int16
Color type 1 1*int16
Color values 1 8 bytes
Color model 2 1*int16 (may be different than 1)
Color type 2 1*int16 (same as 1)
Color values 2 8 bytes
Color name string of length (int8) single-byte (cddc if pal. type >< 16) or double-byte (cdbc,cddc if pal. type = 16,dddc) characters

Else: Same as version 5-8

Version X4

pantone8.cpl (CorelDRAW X4)

0000000   cd dd 05 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 2e 00 00 00 01 00   ................
0000010   00 00 32 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 34 00 00 00 02 00   ..2.......4.....
0000020   00 00 77 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 41 04 01 00 02 00   ..w.......A.....
0000030   05 00 03 00 21 50 00 41 00 4e 00 54 00 4f 00 4e   ....!P.A.N.T.O.N
0000040   00 45 00 20 00 4d 00 41 00 54 00 43 00 48 00 49   .E. .M.A.T.C.H.I
0000050   00 4e 00 47 00 20 00 53 00 59 00 53 00 54 00 45   .N.G. .S.Y.S.T.E
0000060   00 4d 00 20 00 2d 00 20 00 43 00 6f 00 72 00 65   .M. .-. .C.o.r.e
0000070   00 6c 00 20 00 38 00 b2 03 01 00 00 00 02 00 05   .l. .8..........
0000080   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 64 00 05 00 05 00 00 00 00   .......d........
.......
0010420   00 2e 00 20 00 57 00 68 00 69 00 74 00 65 00 20   ... .W.h.i.t.e.
0010430   00 43 00 56 00 87 00 00 00 06 00 00 00 14 05 00   .C.V............
0010440   00 07 00 06 00 07 00 88 00                        .........

Version 2 bytes (cddd)
Number of header blocks 1*int32
Header ID 1*int32 (0 ⇒ Name, 1 ⇒ Palette type, 2 ⇒ Number of colors, 3 ⇒ Special inks, 4 ⇒ UI Color models, 5 ⇒ UI Columns & Rows)
Header Offset 1*int32
UI Color models 2*int8
Palette type 1*int16
Palette name string of length (int8) double-byte characters
Number of color entries 1*int16
Color entries starts after header 2
Number of special inks 1*int8
Ink position *int8
UI Columns & Rows 4*int16 (Displayed cols and rows, total cols and rows)

Color entries

0000070   00 6c 00 20 00 38 00 b2 03 01 00 00 00 02 00 05   .l. .8..........
0000080   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 64 00 05 00 05 00 00 00 00   .......d........
0000090   00 15 e4 f8 00 19 50 00 41 00 4e 00 54 00 4f 00   ......P.A.N.T.O.
00000a0   4e 00 45 00 20 00 50 00 72 00 6f 00 63 00 65 00   N.E. .P.r.o.c.e.
00000b0   73 00 73 00 20 00 59 00 65 00 6c 00 6c 00 6f 00   s.s. .Y.e.l.l.o.
00000c0   77 00 20 00 43 00 56 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00   w. .C.V.........
00000d0   14 05 00 00 02 00 00 00 02 00 05 00 00 00 00 00   ................

Color ID 1*int32
Color model 1*int16
Color type 1*int16
Color values 8 bytes
Color model 1*int16
Color type 1*int16
Color values 8 bytes
Color name string of length (int8) double-byte characters
Position (row) 1*int32
Position (column) 1*int32
??? 1*int32 (1300 or 1400)

Custom palettes

Gray100.cpl (CorelDRAW 10)

0000000   dc dc 12 50 6f 75 63 65 6e 74 61 67 65 20 64 65   ...Poucentage de
0000010   20 6e 6f 69 72 65 00 11 00 05 05 00 00 00 00 00    noire..........
0000020   00 00 ff 0b 31 30 30 25 20 20 20 4e 6f 69 72 11   ....100% Noir.
.......
0000900   09 31 25 20 20 20 4e 6f 69 72 11 00 05 05 00 00   .1% Noir......
0000910   00 00 00 00 00 00 09 30 25 20 20 20 4e 6f 69 72   .......0% Noir

Version 2 bytes (dcdc)
Palette name string of length (int8) characters
Number of color entries 1*int16
Color entries

Color entries

Same as version 5-8

BCS

RAL Digital C1 / RAL ColourDesigner / RAL Digital Colour Atlas

Byte-order: Little-endian

Alligator Collection 3000.bcs (RAL Digital C1 4.0)

0000000   2c 63 6c 66 05 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 5f 43 6f 6c   ,clf.English_Col
0000010   6f 75 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 3a 47 65 72 6d 61   our system:Germa
0000020   6e 5f 46 61 72 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 3a 10 02 43   n_Farbsystem:..C
0000030   45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 5f 41 6c 6c 69 67 61 74 6f   English_Alligato
0000040   72 20 43 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 33 30 30   r Collection 300
0000050   30 3a 47 65 72 6d 61 6e 5f 41 6c 6c 69 67 61 74   0:German_Alligat
0000060   6f 72 20 43 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 33 30   or Collection 30
0000070   30 30 3a 01 1b 41 6c 6c 69 67 61 74 6f 72 20 42   00:..Alligator B
0000080   6c 6f 63 6b 20 33 30 30 30 20 33 30 30 30 2d 31   lock 3000 3000-1
.......
0005030   6f 72 20 42 6c 6f 63 6b 20 33 30 30 30 20 33 38   or Block 3000 38
0005040   30 38 d7 a3 15 42 71 3d 16 c1 14 ae ed c1         08...Bq=......

Offset 1 1*int8
Palette type 3*char (clf,atl,rgb)
Offset 2 1*int8
Palette type (text) string starting at Offset 2 and finishing at Offset 1 (Colour system, CMYK print, RGB print)
Number of colors 1*int16
Palette name string of length (int8) characters
Unknown byte always 0x01 in all the files I've analyzed
Color entries

Color entries

0000070   30 30 3a 01 1b 41 6c 6c 69 67 61 74 6f 72 20 42   00:..Alligator B
0000080   6c 6f 63 6b 20 33 30 30 30 20 33 30 30 30 2d 31   lock 3000 3000-1
0000090   d7 23 9a 42 7b 14 5e 41 1f 85 52 42 1b 41 6c 6c   .#.B{.^A..RB.All

Color name string of length (int8) characters
Lab values 3*float16

CS (Color Scheme)

ColorSchemer Studio

Byte-order: Little-endian

Bright Blues.cs

0000000   03 00 04 00 00 55 ff 00 00 55 ff 00 07 00 00 00 .....U...U......
0000010   43 6f 6c 6f 72 20 31 00 55 ff 06 30 30 35 35 46 Color 1.U..0055F
.......
0000060   6c 6f 72 20 34 ff ff ff 06 46 46 46 46 46 46 00   lor 4....FFFFFF.
0000070   ff 87 00 00 ff ff ff 00 ff 87 00 00 00 00 00 00   ................
0000080   ff ff ff 00 ff ff ff 00 00 55 ff 00 35 96 ff 00   .........U..5...
0000090   ff ff ff 00                                       ....

Version ? 1*int16
Number of colors 1*int16
Base color 3*int8 (RGB)
Color entries
36 bytes ??? not present in every file

Color entries

0000000   03 00 04 00 00 55 ff 00 00 55 ff 00 07 00 00 00   .....U...U......
0000010   43 6f 6c 6f 72 20 31 00 55 ff 06 30 30 35 35 46   Color 1.U..0055F
0000020   46 00 35 96 ff 00 07 00 00 00 43 6f 6c 6f 72 20   F.5.......Color

Color values 3*int8 (RGB)
Color name string of length (int32) characters
Color values (text) 6*char string. I would have said that the 0x06 before is the string length if there wasn't that swatch that has 0x04 at that place... but that swatch has also other anormalies so it may be corrupted.
Developed int8 is 1 if that color is developed in the color list when the file is opened with ColorSchemer Studio.

XML formats

ACBL (Adobe Color Book Legacy)

Adobe Creative Suite 3

PANTONE opaque couché.acbl (Adobe Illustrator CS3)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<AdobeSwatchbook Version="1" BookID="3002">
	<PrefixPostfixPairs>
		<PrefixPostfixPair Prefix="PANTONE " Postfix=" C"/>
		<PrefixPostfixPair ID="LegacyCVC" Prefix="PANTONE " Postfix=" CVC"/>
		</PrefixPostfixPairs>
	<Formats>
		<Format ColorSpace="CMYK" Encoding="Float" Channels="4" ID="0"/>
		</Formats>
	<Swatches>
		<Sp N="Yellow"><C>0 0.01 1 0</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="Yellow 012"><C>0 0.04 1 0</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="Orange 021"><C>0 0.53 1 0</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="Warm Red"><C>0 0.75 0.9 0</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="Red 032"><C>0 0.9 0.86 0</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="Rubine Red"><C>0 1 0.15 0.04</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="Rhodamine Red"><C>0.03 0.89 0 0</C></Sp>
		...
		<Sp N="8100"><C>0.1 0.15 0.05 0.2</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="8201"><C>0.25 0 0 0.25</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="8281"><C>0.35 0 0.2 0.25</C></Sp>
		<Sp N="8321"><C>0.2 0 0.3 0.25</C></Sp>
		</Swatches>
	</AdobeSwatchbook>
ACB (AutoCAD Color Book)

AutoCAD family products

Pantone A & I-cotton.acb (AutoCAD 2008)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding = "UTF-8"?>
<colorBook>
  <bookName>PANTONE(R) a & i-cotton</bookName>
  <majorVersion>2</majorVersion>
  <minorVersion>0</minorVersion>
  <colorPage>
    <pageColor>  <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>TPE</redEncrypt> <greenEncrypt>WQH</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>QCT</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </pageColor>
    <colorEntry>  <colorName>PANTONE 11-0103 TC</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>HGO</redEncrypt> <greenEncrypt>PQH</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>UCX</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </colorEntry>
    <colorEntry>  <colorName>PANTONE 11-0602 TC</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>OMU</redEncrypt> <greenEncrypt>NLE</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>AIN</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </colorEntry>
    ...
    <colorEntry>  <colorName>PANTONE 19-0515 TC</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>AWY</redEncrypt> <greenEncrypt>CFZ</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>FHS</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </colorEntry>
    <colorEntry>  <colorName>PANTONE 19-0511 TC</colorName> <RGB8Encrypt> <redEncrypt>PMO</redEncrypt> <greenEncrypt>LSJ</greenEncrypt> <blueEncrypt>OQA</blueEncrypt> </RGB8Encrypt> </colorEntry>
  </colorPage>
</colorBook>
QCL (QuarkXPress Color Library)

QuarkXPress 7

These files comply with the W3 recommendation of having the xml structure in continuous mode. I've indented them in order to make it easier to read.

PANTONE(R) solidinhex.qcl (QuarkXPress 7.31)

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE cgats17 SYSTEM 'cgats_data.dtd'>

<cgats17 std_version="1.0" dtd_version="1.0">
  <cgats17.preamble>
    <standard>CGATS.17</standard>
    <originator>© Pantone, Inc., 2001</originator>
    <file_descriptor>PANTONE® solid in hexachrome® coated</file_descriptor>
    <created date="2005-09-13">Sep 13, 2005</created>
  </cgats17.preamble>
  <cgats17.data_section>
    <cgats17.data_section_header>
      <manufacturer>PNTN</manufacturer>
      <comment>
        Quark Format defines the UI and identifiers for Library
      </comment>
      <quark_format>
        <name_format>
          <name_field_info format_id="1" long_form="PANTONE %n HC" short_form="%n"/>
          <name_field_info format_id="2" long_form="PANTONE Hexachrome %n C" short_form="Hexachrome %n"/>
        </name_format>
        <library_identifier>PnHS</library_identifier>
        <default_color_space>6CLR</default_color_space>
        <color_usage_recommendation>5</color_usage_recommendation>
        <ui_spec>Solid Hex UI Spec.cui</ui_spec>
      </quark_format>
    </cgats17.data_section_header>
    <cgats17.data_section_data>
      <number_of_fields>11</number_of_fields>
      <data_format>
        <field_info pos="1" name="SAMPLE_ID"/>
        <field_info pos="2" name="NAME_FORMAT_ID"/>
        <field_info pos="3" name="PC6_1"/>
        <field_info pos="4" name="PC6_2"/>
        <field_info pos="5" name="PC6_3"/>
        <field_info pos="6" name="PC6_4"/>
        <field_info pos="7" name="PC6_5"/>
        <field_info pos="8" name="PC6_6"/>
        <field_info pos="9" name="LAB_L"/>
        <field_info pos="10" name="LAB_A"/>
        <field_info pos="11" name="LAB_B"/>
      </data_format>
      <number_of_sets>1091</number_of_sets>
      <table>
        <tr>
          <td>Yellow</td>
          <td>2</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>100</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>89.87</td>
          <td>-1.92</td>
          <td>99.33</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td>Orange</td>
          <td>2</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>100</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>69.50</td>
          <td>51.59</td>
          <td>80.48</td>
        </tr>
        ...
        <tr>
          <td>7547</td>
          <td>1</td>
          <td>100</td>
          <td>27</td>
          <td>7</td>
          <td>100</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>0</td>
          <td>14.87</td>
          <td>-2.89</td>
          <td>-9.45</td>
        </tr>
      </table>
    </cgats17.data_section_data>
  </cgats17.data_section>
</cgats17>

Solid Hex UI Spec.cui (QuarkXPress 7.31)

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<LibraryUISpecs>
  <edit_dialog_data>
    <rows_per_page>7</rows_per_page>
    <color_ui_prefix>PANTONE</color_ui_prefix>
    <color_ui_suffix>HC</color_ui_suffix>
    <column_data>
      <column_break>6</column_break>
      <column_break>543</column_break>
      <column_break>549</column_break>
      <column_break>554</column_break>
      <column_break>560</column_break>
      <column_break>566</column_break>
    </column_data>
  </edit_dialog_data>
</LibraryUISpecs>

Plain text formats

ACF (ASCII Color Format)

Aldus/Adobe PageMaker + Aldus/Macromedia/Adobe Freehand + Adobe FrameMaker

Official information

PAL / PSPPALETTE

Jasc / Corel Paint Shop Pro

Automne.pal (Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7)

JASC-PAL
0100
256
128 0 0
130 2 0
132 4 0
134 6 0
136 8 0
138 10 0
140 12 0
142 14 0
144 16 0
146 18 0
...
PAL

CorelDRAW 4

TEK140.PAL

"PANTONE Process Yellow CH"    0    0  100    0
"PANTONE Process Magenta CH"    0  100    0    0
"PANTONE Process Cyan CH"  100    0    0    0
"PANTONE Process Black CH"    0    0    0  100
"PANTONE Orange 021 CH"    0   48   89    0
"PANTONE Red 032 CH"    0   74   82    0
"PANTONE Blue 072 CH"  100   84    0    0
"PANTONE 100 CH"    2    0   32    0
"PANTONE 101 CH"    3    0   46    0
"PANTONE 102 CH"    4    0   60    0
"PANTONE Yellow CH"    6    0   80    0
"PANTONE 103 CH"    2    0  100   20
...
TXT

MetaCreations / Corel Painter

PANTONE(R) solid coated.txt (Corel Painter IX)

ROWS 7
COLS 1
WIDTH 140
HEIGHT 30
TEXTHEIGHT 12
SPACING 1
R:247, G:224, B:23  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Yellow C
R:247, G:217, B:23  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Yellow 012 C
R:237, G:110, B:0  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Orange 021 C
R:245, G:64, B:41  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Warm Red C
R:237, G:46, B:56  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Red 032 C
R:207, G:3, B:92  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Rubine Red C
R:230, G:0, B:148  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Rhodamine Red C
R:186, G:31, B:181  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Purple C
R:102, G:0, B:161  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Violet C
R:41, G:5, B:161  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Blue 072 C
R:23, G:23, B:150  HV:0.00, SV:0.00, VV:0.00  PANTONE Reflex Blue C
...
HPL

Allaire Homesite / ColdFusion

VisiBone1_ap.hpl

Palette
Version 4.0

0 0 0
255 255 255
204 204 204
153 153 153
102 102 102
51 51 51
0 0 0
...

Open formats

Plain text formats

Gimp

Gimp / Inkscape / CinePaint / Krita

Tango.gpl

GIMP Palette
Name: Tango Icon Theme
Columns: 3
#
252 233  79	Butter 1
237 212   0	Butter 2
196 160   0	Butter 3
138 226  52	Chameleon 1
...
KDE

KOffice

40.colors

KDE RGB Palette
0 0 0	Black
48 48 48	Almost black
88 88 88	Very dark gray
128 128 128	Dark gray
160 160 160	Mid gray
195 195 195	Light gray
220 220 220	Very light gray
255 255 255 White
...
Skencil

Skencil / sK1

mini.spl

##Sketch RGBPalette 0
0.000000 0.000000 0.000000	Black
0.100000 0.100000 0.100000	90% Black
0.200000 0.200000 0.200000	80% Black
0.300000 0.300000 0.300000	70% Black
0.400000 0.400000 0.400000	60% Black
0.500000 0.500000 0.500000	50% Black
0.600000 0.600000 0.600000	40% Black
0.700000 0.700000 0.700000	30% Black
0.800000 0.800000 0.800000	20% Black
0.900000 0.900000 0.900000	10% Black
1.000000 1.000000 1.000000	White
...

XML formats

Scribus

tango.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SCRIBUSCOLORS Name="tango" >
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#eeeeec" Register="0" NAME=" Aluminum 1" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#d3d7cf" Register="0" NAME=" Aluminum 2" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#babdb6" Register="0" NAME=" Aluminum 3" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#888a85" Register="0" NAME=" Aluminum 4" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#555753" Register="0" NAME=" Aluminum 5" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#2e3436" Register="0" NAME=" Aluminum 6" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#bfceea" Register="0" NAME=" Blue 1" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" RGB="#4374b7" Register="0" NAME=" Blue 2" />
 ...
 <COLOR Spot="0" Register="0" NAME="Black" CMYK="#000000ff" />
 <COLOR Spot="0" Register="0" NAME="White" CMYK="#00000000" />
</SCRIBUSCOLORS>
sK1

CMYK_standart.skp

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<palette>
	<description type="CMYK" name="Standart CMYK Palette" />
	<color c="1" m="1" y="1" k="1" name="Registration Color" />
	<color c="0" m="0" y="0" k="1" name="Black" />
	<color c="0" m="0" y="0" k="0.9" name="90% Black" />
	<color c="0" m="0" y="0" k="0.8" name="80% Black" />
	<color c="0" m="0" y="0" k="0.7" name="70% Black" />
	<color c="0" m="0" y="0" k="0.6" name="60% Black" />
	...
	<color c="0.078000" m="0.027000" y="0.024000" k="0.004000" name="Alice Blue" />
	<color c="0.133000" m="0.094000" y="0.031000" k="0.004000" name="Lavender" />
	<color c="0.035000" m="0.071000" y="0.047000" k="0.004000" name="Lavender Blush" />
	<color c="0.031000" m="0.125000" y="0.122000" k="0.004000" name="Misty Rose" />
</palette>
SOC (StarOffice Colors)

StarOffice / OpenOffice.org / LibreOffice

gallery.soc

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<office:color-table xmlns:office="http://openoffice.org/2000/office" xmlns:style="http://openoffice.org/2000/style" xmlns:text="http://openoffice.org/2000/text" xmlns:table="http://openoffice.org/2000/table" xmlns:draw="http://openoffice.org/2000/drawing" xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:meta="http://openoffice.org/2000/meta" xmlns:number="http://openoffice.org/2000/datastyle" xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:chart="http://openoffice.org/2000/chart" xmlns:dr3d="http://openoffice.org/2000/dr3d" xmlns:math="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:form="http://openoffice.org/2000/form" xmlns:script="http://openoffice.org/2000/script" xmlns:config="http://openoffice.org/2001/config">
 <draw:color draw:name="0-0-0-0" draw:color="#ffffff"/>
 <draw:color draw:name="0-0-0-10" draw:color="#e5e5e5"/>
 <draw:color draw:name="0-0-0-20" draw:color="#cccccc"/>
 <draw:color draw:name="0-0-0-30" draw:color="#b2b2b2"/>
 ...
 <draw:color draw:name="54-60-72-0" draw:color="#756647"/>
 <draw:color draw:name="9-20-24-15" draw:color="#c2a69c"/>
 <draw:color draw:name="9-13-16-12" draw:color="#c9bfb7"/>
</office:color-table>
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

icons by
famfamfam.com