ISO 17972-3以电子形式定义了与所有类型打印机的输出目标相关的目标输入值、颜色和过程控制数据的交换格式（及其正确解释所需的相关元数据）。ISO 17972-3包括在CXF框架内使用CustomResource元素来定义用于交换的最小数据集，并将数据标识为ISO 12642系列的一部分。如果将同一框架用于另一个已定义的目标，则也会为此做出规定。

ISO 17972-3 defines an exchange format for target input values, colour and process control data relating output targets for printers of all types (and the associated metadata necessary for its proper interpretation) in electronic form. ISO 17972-3 includes the use of a CustomResource element within the CXF framework to define a minimum set of data for exchange and identify the data as being part of the ISO 12642 series. If this same framework is used for another defined target, provision is made for that use as well.