Overview
- European Union acquisition records show Apple bought Germany’s Patchflyer, maker of the web-based color‑grading app Color.io, and hired founder Jonathan Ochmann.
- Color.io went offline on December 31, 2025 after about five weeks of notice, cutting off more than 200,000 creators who relied on the standalone service.
- Reports disagree on when the deal closed, citing either October 2025 or January 2026, a gap that reflects the EU’s practice of publishing acquisition details months after filing.
- Industry outlets say Apple may bring Color.io’s color science to Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, or the Apple Creator Studio bundle, though no integrations have been announced.
- The acquisition aligns with Apple’s recent creator-focused buys, including MotionVFX and the previously known PromptAI deal, pointing to steady investment in its pro software lineup.