A color management architecture includes multiple color transform modules chainable together by a framework, with each color transform module having access to color profiles which provide data necessary to convert color data in accordance with algorithmic functionality in the transform modules. The color profiles are stored in accordance with a pre-designated format, such as a standardized format that is neither vendor specific nor platform specific. Each color transform module further includes the functionality to read to and write from a phantom profile. The phantom profile is also organized in the same pre-designated format, and thus serves as a primary conduit for data transfer between chained ones of the color transform modules.