A method and apparatus for generating transform-based color profiles by a measurement-based Color Management System (CMS). The measurement-based CMS generates the transform-based profile wherein the measurement-based color system is parameterized by color data and procedures. The CMS may use a reference Profile Connection Space (PCS) loaded from a measurement profile, thus enabling user configuration of the generation process. The reference PCS may also be set to include a gamut that is appropriate for an eventual color-output device. In addition, a Gamut Mapping Model (GMM) used in the generation process is user-selectable as well as a Device Model (DM). The DM may also be supplied as a pluggable module. The CMS also features user-selectable mapping from an International Color Consortium (ICC) intent to a PCS profile and to a DM. The features of the CMS may be used in an application, stand-alone profiling tool or in an operating system utility.