Overview
IEC 61966-12-1:2011 - also known as Gamut ID - specifies a standardized colour gamut metadata scheme for multimedia systems and equipment. The standard defines how to describe the colour gamut of video content or of a display device so that controlled and predictable colour reproduction can be achieved across heterogeneous systems (wide-gamut video, HDR displays, projectors, etc.). IEC 61966-12-1 defines metadata profiles (full, medium, simple), the logical structure of gamut descriptions, and optional colour-encoding information when the encoding specification does not provide it.
Key Topics
- Gamut ID metadata scheme: A formal structure to identify and describe a colour gamut associated with content or a display.
- Profiles for scalability: Full, medium and simple profiles allow trade-offs between precision and implementation complexity (professional vs consumer use).
- Gamut geometry description: Definitions for vertices, faces, gamut hulls and components; includes mechanisms for packing coordinates and indices for efficient metadata storage.
- Header and metadata structure: Standardized headers for Gamut ID and for the description of gamut geometry to enable interoperable parsing.
- Colour reproduction information: Metadata fields to carry additional colour encoding and reproduction requirements when not present in the colour encoding specification.
- Implementation scope: The standard defines the metadata format only - vendor-specific creation and end-use workflows are permitted.
Applications
- Ensuring accurate colour mapping when playing wide-gamut content on displays with different gamuts.
- Enabling content creators (post-production, digital cinema) to embed the target gamut so displays can perform controlled rendering and gamut mapping.
- Allowing display manufacturers to publish device gamut metadata so creative tools can optimize content for specific devices during mastering.
- Supporting broadcast, streaming and media workflows that must manage multiple display types and preserve appearance across platforms.
Who Uses This Standard
- Colour scientists and imaging engineers
- Display manufacturers and hardware vendors
- Video codec and metadata tool developers
- Post-production studios, digital cinema and broadcast engineers
- System integrators and platform providers managing wide-gamut/HDR distribution
Related Standards
- IEC 61966-2-4 (xvYCC) - wide-gamut video colour encoding
- ITU-R BT.709 and ITU-R BT.601 - legacy video colour gamuts and workflows
- Other parts of IEC 61966 series on multimedia colour measurement and management
IEC 61966-12-1:2011 is a practical, interoperable foundation for describing and exchanging colour gamut metadata, enabling consistent colour appearance across increasingly diverse video and display ecosystems.
Open preview (PDF)Multimedia systems and equipment - Colour measurement and management - Part 12-1: Metadata for identification of colour gamut (Gamut ID)
