diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 0db866bd..7130e3f8 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 31/8/12 started 7.31.0
-- work on moving colour to vips8
+- redone im_Lab2XYZ() as a class
 
 13/9/12 started 7.30.3
 - linecache sized itself too large
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index d2437d3e..faa1bc6f 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+- can we make DOUBLE ARRAY args easier from C?
+
+  at the moment they are horrible or ad-hoc, see vips_linear() etc. and
+  the im_Lab2XYZ_temp() wrapper
+
+  can the thing that collects args from the stack spot array objects? eg. 
+
+	double fred[3];
+
+	vips_Lab2XYZ( in, out, "temp", fred, 3, NULL );
+
+
 colour
 
 colour operations:
@@ -58,6 +70,8 @@ how about a base colour class with 1 in, 1 out,
   pass extra bands through though
 
 
+- CMC(l:c) needs optional args for l and c
+
 
 
 
diff --git a/libvips/colour/Lab2XYZ.c b/libvips/colour/Lab2XYZ.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..48df050c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libvips/colour/Lab2XYZ.c
@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+/* Lab to XYZ.
+ *
+ * Modified:
+ * 15/11/94 JC
+ *	- ANSIfied
+ *	- sets Type of output
+ *	- better error messages
+ * 16/11/94 JC
+ *	- partialed
+ *	- in-line conversion
+ * 8/2/95 JC
+ *	- new im_wrapone function
+ * 2/11/09
+ * 	- gtkdoc
+ * 	- cleanups
+ * 18/9/12
+ * 	- redone as a class
+ */
+
+/*
+
+    This file is part of VIPS.
+    
+    VIPS is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+
+ */
+
+/*
+
+    These files are distributed with VIPS - http://www.vips.ecs.soton.ac.uk
+
+ */
+
+/*
+#define VIPS_DEBUG
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif /*HAVE_CONFIG_H*/
+#include <vips/intl.h>
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <math.h>
+
+#include <vips/vips.h>
+#include <vips/debug.h>
+
+#include "colour.h"
+
+typedef struct _VipsLab2XYZ {
+	VipsColorimetric parent_instance;
+
+	/* The colour temperature -- default to D65. 
+	 */
+	VipsArea *temp;
+
+	/* Broken out as xyz.
+	 */
+	double X0;
+	double Y0;
+	double Z0;
+
+} VipsLab2XYZ;
+
+typedef VipsColorimetricClass VipsLab2XYZClass;
+
+G_DEFINE_TYPE( VipsLab2XYZ, vips_Lab2XYZ, VIPS_TYPE_COLORIMETRIC );
+
+/* Process a buffer of data.
+ */
+static void
+vips_Lab2XYZ_line( VipsColour *colour, VipsPel *out, VipsPel **in, int width )
+{
+	VipsLab2XYZ *Lab2XYZ = (VipsLab2XYZ *) colour;
+	float *p = (float *) in[0];
+	float *q = (float *) out;
+
+	int x;
+
+	VIPS_DEBUG_MSG( "vips_Lab2XYZ_line: X0 = %g, Y0 = %g, Z0 = %g\n",
+		Lab2XYZ->X0, Lab2XYZ->Y0, Lab2XYZ->Z0 );
+
+	for( x = 0; x < width; x++ ) {
+		float L, a, b;
+		float X, Y, Z;
+		double cby, tmp;
+
+		L = p[0];
+		a = p[1];
+		b = p[2];
+		p += 3;
+
+		if( L < 8.0 ) {
+			Y = (L * Lab2XYZ->Y0) / 903.3;
+			cby = 7.787 * (Y / Lab2XYZ->Y0) + 16.0 / 116.0;
+		}
+		else {
+			cby = (L + 16.0) / 116.0;
+			Y = Lab2XYZ->Y0 * cby * cby * cby;
+		}
+
+		tmp = a / 500.0 + cby;
+		if( tmp < 0.2069 )
+			X = Lab2XYZ->X0 * (tmp - 0.13793) / 7.787;
+		else    
+			X = Lab2XYZ->X0 * tmp * tmp * tmp;
+
+		tmp = cby - b / 200.0;
+		if( tmp < 0.2069 )
+			Z = Lab2XYZ->Z0 * (tmp - 0.13793) / 7.787;
+		else    
+			Z = Lab2XYZ->Z0 * tmp * tmp * tmp;
+
+		/* Write.
+		 */
+		q[0] = X;
+		q[1] = Y;
+		q[2] = Z;
+		q += 3;
+	}
+}
+
+static int
+vips_Lab2XYZ_build( VipsObject *object )
+{
+	VipsLab2XYZ *Lab2XYZ = (VipsLab2XYZ *) object;
+
+	if( Lab2XYZ->temp ) {
+		if( vips_check_vector_length( "VipsLab2XYZ", 
+			Lab2XYZ->temp->n, 3 ) )
+			return( -1 );
+		Lab2XYZ->X0 = ((double *) Lab2XYZ->temp->data)[0];
+		Lab2XYZ->Y0 = ((double *) Lab2XYZ->temp->data)[1];
+		Lab2XYZ->Z0 = ((double *) Lab2XYZ->temp->data)[2];
+	}
+
+	if( VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( vips_Lab2XYZ_parent_class )->build( object ) )
+		return( -1 );
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
+static void
+vips_Lab2XYZ_class_init( VipsLab2XYZClass *class )
+{
+	GObjectClass *gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS( class );
+	VipsObjectClass *object_class = (VipsObjectClass *) class;
+	VipsColourClass *colour_class = VIPS_COLOUR_CLASS( class );
+
+	gobject_class->set_property = vips_object_set_property;
+	gobject_class->get_property = vips_object_get_property;
+
+	object_class->nickname = "Lab2XYZ";
+	object_class->description = _( "transform CIELAB to XYZ" );
+	object_class->build = vips_Lab2XYZ_build;
+
+	colour_class->process_line = vips_Lab2XYZ_line;
+
+	VIPS_ARG_BOXED( class, "temp", 110, 
+		_( "Temperature" ), 
+		_( "Colour temperature" ),
+		VIPS_ARGUMENT_OPTIONAL_INPUT,
+		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsLab2XYZ, temp ),
+		VIPS_TYPE_ARRAY_DOUBLE );
+}
+
+static void
+vips_Lab2XYZ_init( VipsLab2XYZ *Lab2XYZ )
+{
+	Lab2XYZ->X0 = VIPS_D65_X0;
+	Lab2XYZ->Y0 = VIPS_D65_Y0;
+	Lab2XYZ->Z0 = VIPS_D65_Z0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_Lab2XYZ:
+ * @in: input image
+ * @out: output image
+ *
+ * optional arguments:
+ *
+ * @temp: colour temperature
+ *
+ * Turn Lab to XYZ.
+ *
+ * The colour temperature defaults to D65, but can be specified with @temp.
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error
+ */
+int
+vips_Lab2XYZ( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
+{
+	va_list ap;
+	int result;
+
+	va_start( ap, out );
+	result = vips_call_split( "Lab2XYZ", ap, in, out );
+	va_end( ap );
+
+	return( result );
+}
+
+/**
+ * vips_col_Lab2XYZ:
+ * @L: Input CIE Lab value
+ * @a: Input CIE Lab value
+ * @b: Input CIE Lab value
+ * @X: Return CIE XYZ colour
+ * @Y: Return CIE XYZ colour
+ * @Z: Return CIE XYZ colour
+ *
+ * Calculate XYZ from Lab, D65.
+ * 
+ * See also: vips_Lab2XYZ().
+ */
+void
+vips_col_Lab2XYZ( float L, float a, float b, float *X, float *Y, float *Z )
+{	
+	float in[3], out[3];
+	VipsLab2XYZ Lab2XYZ;
+
+	in[0] = L;
+	in[1] = a;
+	in[2] = b;
+	Lab2XYZ.X0 = IM_D65_X0;
+	Lab2XYZ.Y0 = IM_D65_Y0;
+	Lab2XYZ.Z0 = IM_D65_Z0;
+	vips_Lab2XYZ_line( (VipsColour *) &Lab2XYZ, 
+		(VipsPel *) out, (VipsPel **) &in, 1 );
+	*X = out[0];
+	*Y = out[1];
+	*Z = out[2];
+}
+
diff --git a/libvips/colour/Makefile.am b/libvips/colour/Makefile.am
index 87a9718f..317a3397 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/Makefile.am
+++ b/libvips/colour/Makefile.am
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ libcolour_la_SOURCES = \
 	disp.c \
 	colour_dispatch.c \
 	derived.c \
+	Lab2XYZ.c \
 	im_icc_transform.c \
 	im_LCh2Lab.c \
 	im_LCh2UCS.c \
 	im_Lab2LCh.c \
 	im_Lab2LabQ.c \
 	im_Lab2LabS.c \
-	im_Lab2XYZ.c \
 	im_LabQ2Lab.c \
 	im_LabQ2LabS.c \
 	im_LabQ2disp.c \
diff --git a/libvips/colour/colour.c b/libvips/colour/colour.c
index 5d7c3dd0..e905ad29 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/colour.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/colour.c
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ vips_colour_class_init( VipsColourClass *class )
 {
 	GObjectClass *gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS( class );
 	VipsObjectClass *vobject_class = VIPS_OBJECT_CLASS( class );
+	VipsOperationClass *operation_class = VIPS_OPERATION_CLASS( class );
 
 	gobject_class->set_property = vips_object_set_property;
 	gobject_class->get_property = vips_object_get_property;
@@ -136,6 +137,8 @@ vips_colour_class_init( VipsColourClass *class )
 	vobject_class->description = _( "colour operations" );
 	vobject_class->build = vips_colour_build;
 
+	operation_class->flags = VIPS_OPERATION_SEQUENTIAL;
+
 	VIPS_ARG_IMAGE( class, "out", 100, 
 		_( "Output" ), 
 		_( "Output image" ),
@@ -158,7 +161,7 @@ vips_colorimetric_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 	VipsImage **t;
 
-	t = (VipsImage **) vips_object_local_array( object, 1 );
+	t = (VipsImage **) vips_object_local_array( object, 4 );
 
 	colour->n = 1;
 	colour->in = (VipsImage **) vips_object_local_array( object, 1 );
@@ -178,7 +181,7 @@ vips_colorimetric_build( VipsObject *object )
 				"n", t[0]->Bands - 3, NULL ) )
 			return( -1 );
 
-		colour->in[0] = t[2];
+		colour->in[0] = t[1];
 	}
 
 	if( colour->in[0] )
@@ -190,10 +193,17 @@ vips_colorimetric_build( VipsObject *object )
 
 	/* Reattach higher bands, if necessary.
 	 */
-	if( t[0]->Bands > 3 ) 
-		if( vips_bandjoin2( colour->out, t[2], &colour->out, NULL ) )
+	if( t[0]->Bands > 3 ) {
+		VipsImage *x;
+
+		if( vips_bandjoin2( colour->out, t[2], &x, NULL ) )
 			return( -1 );
 
+		VIPS_UNREF( colour->out );
+
+		colour->out = x;
+	}
+
 	return( 0 );
 }
 
@@ -228,7 +238,7 @@ vips_colorimetric_init( VipsColorimetric *colorimetric )
 void
 vips_colour_operation_init( void )
 {
-	extern GType vips_add_get_type( void ); 
+	extern GType vips_Lab2XYZ_get_type( void ); 
 
-	vips_add_get_type();
+	vips_Lab2XYZ_get_type();
 }
diff --git a/libvips/colour/colour_funcs.c b/libvips/colour/colour_funcs.c
index 9234b53a..172bc0c6 100644
--- a/libvips/colour/colour_funcs.c
+++ b/libvips/colour/colour_funcs.c
@@ -150,37 +150,6 @@ im_col_XYZ2Lab( float X, float Y, float Z, float *L, float *a, float *b )
 	*b = out[2];
 }
 
-/**
- * im_col_Lab2XYZ:
- * @L: Input CIE Lab value
- * @a: Input CIE Lab value
- * @b: Input CIE Lab value
- * @X: Return CIE XYZ colour
- * @Y: Return CIE XYZ colour
- * @Z: Return CIE XYZ colour
- *
- * Calculate XYZ from Lab, D65.
- * 
- * See also: im_Lab2XYZ_temp().
- */
-void
-im_col_Lab2XYZ( float L, float a, float b, float *X, float *Y, float *Z )
-{	
-	float in[3], out[3];
-	im_colour_temperature temp;
-
-	in[0] = L;
-	in[1] = a;
-	in[2] = b;
-	temp.X0 = IM_D65_X0;
-	temp.Y0 = IM_D65_Y0;
-	temp.Z0 = IM_D65_Z0;
-	imb_Lab2XYZ( in, out, 1, &temp );
-	*X = out[0];
-	*Y = out[1];
-	*Z = out[2];
-}
-
 /**
  * im_col_pythagoras:
  * @L1: Input coordinate 1
@@ -895,19 +864,6 @@ vips_UCS2XYZ( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
 	return( result );
 }
 
-int
-vips_Lab2XYZ( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, ... )
-{
-	va_list ap;
-	int result;
-
-	va_start( ap, out );
-	result = vips_call_split( "im_Lab2XYZ", ap, in, out );
-	va_end( ap );
-
-	return( result );
-}
-
 int
 vips_XYZ2disp( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, 
 	struct im_col_display *disp, ... )
diff --git a/libvips/colour/im_Lab2XYZ.c b/libvips/colour/im_Lab2XYZ.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 37417525..00000000
--- a/libvips/colour/im_Lab2XYZ.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,142 +0,0 @@
-/* Lab to XYZ.
- *
- * Modified:
- * 15/11/94 JC
- *	- ANSIfied
- *	- sets Type of output
- *	- better error messages
- * 16/11/94 JC
- *	- partialed
- *	- in-line conversion
- * 8/2/95 JC
- *	- new im_wrapone function
- * 2/11/09
- * 	- gtkdoc
- * 	- cleanups
- */
-
-/*
-
-    This file is part of VIPS.
-    
-    VIPS is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
-    (at your option) any later version.
-
-    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
-
-    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
-    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-    Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
-
- */
-
-/*
-
-    These files are distributed with VIPS - http://www.vips.ecs.soton.ac.uk
-
- */
-
-#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
-#include <config.h>
-#endif /*HAVE_CONFIG_H*/
-#include <vips/intl.h>
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <math.h>
-
-#include <vips/vips.h>
-#include <vips/internal.h>
-
-/* Process a buffer of data.
- */
-void
-imb_Lab2XYZ( float *p, float *q, int n, im_colour_temperature *temp )
-{
-	int x;
-
-	for( x = 0; x < n; x++ ) {
-		float L, a, b;
-		float X, Y, Z;
-		double cby, tmp;
-
-		L = p[0];
-		a = p[1];
-		b = p[2];
-		p += 3;
-
-		if( L < 8.0 ) {
-			Y = (L * temp->Y0) / 903.3;
-			cby = 7.787 * (Y / temp->Y0) + 16.0 / 116.0;
-		}
-		else {
-			cby = (L + 16.0) / 116.0;
-			Y = temp->Y0 * cby * cby * cby;
-		}
-
-		tmp = a / 500.0 + cby;
-		if( tmp < 0.2069 )
-			X = temp->X0 * (tmp - 0.13793) / 7.787;
-		else    
-			X = temp->X0 * tmp * tmp * tmp;
-
-		tmp = cby - b / 200.0;
-		if( tmp < 0.2069 )
-			Z = temp->Z0 * (tmp - 0.13793) / 7.787;
-		else    
-			Z = temp->Z0 * tmp * tmp * tmp;
-
-		/* Write.
-		 */
-		q[0] = X;
-		q[1] = Y;
-		q[2] = Z;
-		q += 3;
-	}
-}
-
-/**
- * im_Lab2XYZ_temp:
- * @in: input image
- * @out: output image
- * @X0: colour temperature
- * @Y0: colour temperature
- * @Z0: colour temperature
- *
- * Turn Lab to XYZ. @X0, @y0, @Z0 give the Lab colour temperature.
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error.
- */
-int 
-im_Lab2XYZ_temp( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, double X0, double Y0, double Z0 )
-{	
-	im_colour_temperature *temp;
-
-	if( !(temp = IM_NEW( out, im_colour_temperature )) )
-		return( -1 );
-	temp->X0 = X0;
-	temp->Y0 = Y0;
-	temp->Z0 = Z0;
-
-	return( im__colour_unary( "im_Lab2XYZ_temp", in, out, IM_TYPE_XYZ,
-		(im_wrapone_fn) imb_Lab2XYZ, temp, NULL ) );
-}
-
-/**
- * im_Lab2XYZ:
- * @in: input image
- * @out: output image
- *
- * Turn D65 Lab to XYZ.
- *
- * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error.
- */
-int 
-im_Lab2XYZ( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out )
-{
-	return( im_Lab2XYZ_temp( in, out, IM_D65_X0, IM_D65_Y0, IM_D65_Z0 ) );
-}
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/rename.c b/libvips/deprecated/rename.c
index f46d6188..fe8d8ea5 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/rename.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/rename.c
@@ -705,4 +705,3 @@ im_flood_other( IMAGE *test, IMAGE *mark,
 {
 	return( im_draw_flood_other( mark, test, x, y, serial, dout ) );
 }
-
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/vips7compat.c b/libvips/deprecated/vips7compat.c
index 274bc4b9..dc731fe1 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/vips7compat.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/vips7compat.c
@@ -2143,3 +2143,45 @@ im_rightshift_size( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out,
 
 	return( 0 );
 }
+
+int 
+im_Lab2XYZ_temp( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, double X0, double Y0, double Z0 )
+{
+	double ary[3];
+	VipsArea *temp;
+	VipsImage *x;
+
+	ary[0] = X0;
+	ary[1] = Y0;
+	ary[2] = Z0;
+	temp = (VipsArea *) vips_array_double_new( ary, 3 ); 
+	if( vips_Lab2XYZ( in, &x, "temp", temp, NULL ) ) {
+		vips_area_unref( temp );
+		return( -1 );
+	}
+	vips_area_unref( temp );
+
+	if( im_copy( x, out ) ) {
+		g_object_unref( x );
+		return( -1 );
+	}
+	g_object_unref( x );
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
+int 
+im_Lab2XYZ( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out )
+{
+	VipsImage *x;
+
+	if( vips_Lab2XYZ( in, &x, NULL ) )
+		return( -1 );
+	if( im_copy( x, out ) ) {
+		g_object_unref( x );
+		return( -1 );
+	}
+	g_object_unref( x );
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/colour.h b/libvips/include/vips/colour.h
index 802101ce..c2f3c27b 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/colour.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/colour.h
@@ -35,13 +35,63 @@
 
  */
 
-#ifndef IM_COLOUR_H
-#define IM_COLOUR_H
+#ifndef VIPS_COLOUR_H
+#define VIPS_COLOUR_H
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif /*__cplusplus*/
 
+/* Areas under curves for Dxx. 2 degree observer.
+ */
+#define VIPS_D93_X0 (89.7400)
+#define VIPS_D93_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_D93_Z0 (130.7700)
+
+#define VIPS_D75_X0 (94.9682)
+#define VIPS_D75_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_D75_Z0 (122.5710)
+
+/* D65 temp 6504.
+ */
+#define VIPS_D65_X0 (95.0470)
+#define VIPS_D65_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_D65_Z0 (108.8827)
+
+#define VIPS_D55_X0 (95.6831)
+#define VIPS_D55_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_D55_Z0 (92.0871)
+
+#define VIPS_D50_X0 (96.4250)
+#define VIPS_D50_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_D50_Z0 (82.4680)
+
+/* A temp 2856k.
+ */
+#define VIPS_A_X0 (109.8503)
+#define VIPS_A_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_A_Z0 (35.5849)
+
+/* B temp 4874k.
+ */
+#define VIPS_B_X0 (99.0720)
+#define VIPS_B_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_B_Z0 (85.2230)
+
+/* C temp 6774k.
+ */
+#define VIPS_C_X0 (98.0700)
+#define VIPS_C_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_C_Z0 (118.2300)
+
+#define VIPS_E_X0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_E_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_E_Z0 (100.0)
+
+#define VIPS_D3250_X0 (105.6590)
+#define VIPS_D3250_Y0 (100.0)
+#define VIPS_D3250_Z0 (45.8501)
+
 struct im_col_display;
 
 int vips_LabQ2disp( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out, 
@@ -69,62 +119,19 @@ int vips_XYZ2disp( VipsImage *in, VipsImage **out,
 	struct im_col_display *disp, ... )
 	__attribute__((sentinel));
 
-/* Areas under curves for Dxx. 2 degree observer.
- */
-#define IM_D93_X0 (89.7400)
-#define IM_D93_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_D93_Z0 (130.7700)
+void vips_col_Lab2XYZ( float L, float a, float b, 
+	float *X, float *Y, float *Z );
 
-#define IM_D75_X0 (94.9682)
-#define IM_D75_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_D75_Z0 (122.5710)
 
-/* D65 temp 6504.
- */
-#define IM_D65_X0 (95.0470)
-#define IM_D65_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_D65_Z0 (108.8827)
 
-#define IM_D55_X0 (95.6831)
-#define IM_D55_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_D55_Z0 (92.0871)
 
-#define IM_D50_X0 (96.4250)
-#define IM_D50_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_D50_Z0 (82.4680)
 
-/* A temp 2856k.
- */
-#define IM_A_X0 (109.8503)
-#define IM_A_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_A_Z0 (35.5849)
-
-/* B temp 4874k.
- */
-#define IM_B_X0 (99.0720)
-#define IM_B_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_B_Z0 (85.2230)
-
-/* C temp 6774k.
- */
-#define IM_C_X0 (98.0700)
-#define IM_C_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_C_Z0 (118.2300)
-
-#define IM_E_X0 (100.0)
-#define IM_E_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_E_Z0 (100.0)
-
-#define IM_D3250_X0 (105.6590)
-#define IM_D3250_Y0 (100.0)
-#define IM_D3250_Z0 (45.8501)
 
 /* Colour loading and conversion functions.
  */
 void im_col_ab2Ch( float a, float b, float *C, float *h );
 void im_col_Ch2ab( float C, float h, float *a, float *b );
 void im_col_XYZ2Lab( float X, float Y, float Z, float *L, float *a, float *b );
-void im_col_Lab2XYZ( float L, float a, float b, float *X, float *Y, float *Z );
 float im_col_pythagoras( float L1, float a1, float b1, 
 	float L2, float a2, float b2 );
 
@@ -151,9 +158,6 @@ int im_LCh2UCS( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
 int im_Lab2LCh( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
 int im_Lab2LabQ( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
 int im_Lab2LabS( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
-int im_Lab2XYZ( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
-int im_Lab2XYZ_temp( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out, 
-	double X0, double Y0, double Z0 );
 int im_Lab2UCS( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
 int im_LabQ2Lab( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
 int im_LabQ2LabS( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
@@ -206,4 +210,4 @@ int im_icc_ac2rc( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out, const char *profile_filename );
 }
 #endif /*__cplusplus*/
 
-#endif /*IM_COLOUR_H*/
+#endif /*VIPS_COLOUR_H*/
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/error.h b/libvips/include/vips/error.h
index 8a90d94f..19f8c9e1 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/error.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/error.h
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ int vips_check_8or16( const char *domain, VipsImage *im );
 int vips_check_u8or16orf( const char *domain, VipsImage *im );
 int vips_check_format_same( const char *domain, VipsImage *im1, VipsImage *im2 );
 int vips_check_size_same( const char *domain, VipsImage *im1, VipsImage *im2 );
+int vips_check_vector_length( const char *domain, int n, int len );
 int vips_check_vector( const char *domain, int n, VipsImage *im );
 int vips_check_hist( const char *domain, VipsImage *im );
 int vips_check_imask( const char *domain, INTMASK *mask );
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/vips7compat.h b/libvips/include/vips/vips7compat.h
index 09c359ce..8751b306 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/vips7compat.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/vips7compat.h
@@ -40,6 +40,48 @@ extern "C" {
 /* Renamed types.
  */
 
+#define IM_D93_X0 VIPS_D93_X0 
+#define IM_D93_Y0 VIPS_D93_Y0 
+#define IM_D93_Z0 VIPS_D93_Z0 
+
+#define IM_D75_X0 VIPS_D75_X0 
+#define IM_D75_Y0 VIPS_D75_Y0 
+#define IM_D75_Z0 VIPS_D75_Z0 
+
+#define IM_D65_X0 VIPS_D65_X0 
+#define IM_D65_Y0 VIPS_D65_Y0 
+#define IM_D65_Z0 VIPS_D65_Z0 
+
+#define IM_D55_X0 VIPS_D55_X0 
+#define IM_D55_Y0 VIPS_D55_Y0 
+#define IM_D55_Z0 VIPS_D55_Z0 
+
+#define IM_D50_X0 VIPS_D50_X0 
+#define IM_D50_Y0 VIPS_D50_Y0 
+#define IM_D50_Z0 VIPS_D50_Z0 
+
+#define IM_A_X0 VIPS_A_X0 
+#define IM_A_Y0 VIPS_A_Y0 
+#define IM_A_Z0 VIPS_A_Z0 
+
+#define IM_B_X0 VIPS_B_X0 
+#define IM_B_Y0 VIPS_B_Y0 
+#define IM_B_Z0 VIPS_B_Z0 
+
+#define IM_C_X0 VIPS_C_X0 
+#define IM_C_Y0 VIPS_C_Y0 
+#define IM_C_Z0 VIPS_C_Z0 
+
+#define IM_E_X0 VIPS_E_X0 
+#define IM_E_Y0 VIPS_E_Y0 
+#define IM_E_Z0 VIPS_E_Z0 
+
+#define IM_D3250_X0 VIPS_D3250_X0 
+#define IM_D3250_Y0 VIPS_D3250_Y0 
+#define IM_D3250_Z0 VIPS_D3250_Z0 
+
+#define im_col_Lab2XYZ vips_col_Lab2XYZ
+
 #define PEL VipsPel
 
 #define IM_BANDFMT_NOTSET VIPS_FORMAT_NOTSET
@@ -652,6 +694,9 @@ int im_argb2rgba( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out );
 
 int im_shrink( VipsImage *in, VipsImage *out, double xshrink, double yshrink );
 
+int im_Lab2XYZ_temp( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out, double X0, double Y0, double Z0 );
+int im_Lab2XYZ( IMAGE *in, IMAGE *out );
+
 /* ruby-vips uses this
  */
 #define vips_class_map_concrete_all vips_class_map_all
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/error.c b/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
index 778da0a6..a9729b96 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/error.c
@@ -1085,6 +1085,29 @@ vips_check_coding_same( const char *domain, VipsImage *im1, VipsImage *im2 )
 	return( 0 );
 }
 
+/**
+ * vips_check_vector_length:
+ * @domain: the originating domain for the error message
+ * @n: number of elements in vector
+ * @len: number of elements vector should have
+ *
+ * Check that @n == @len. 
+ *
+ * See also: vips_error().
+ *
+ * Returns: 0 if OK, -1 otherwise.
+ */
+int
+vips_check_vector_length( const char *domain, int n, int len )
+{
+	if( n != len ) {
+		vips_error( domain, _( "vector must have %d elements" ), len );
+		return( -1 );
+	}
+
+	return( 0 );
+}
+
 /**
  * vips_check_vector:
  * @domain: the originating domain for the error message
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
index 9655a35d..04db24a0 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ vips_init( const char *argv0 )
 	vips_conversion_operation_init();
 	vips_foreign_operation_init();
 	vips_resample_operation_init();
+	vips_colour_operation_init();
 
 	/* Load up any plugins in the vips libdir. We don't error on failure,
 	 * it's too annoying to have VIPS refuse to start because of a broken