EXHIBIT 32.1

                               CERTIFICATE OF THE
                      CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT
                            OF X-RITE, INCORPORATED.

         Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(18 U.S.C. 1350):

         I, Michael C. Ferrara, Chief Executive Officer and President of X-Rite,
Incorporated, certify, to the best of my knowledge and belief, pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) that:

         (1) The annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending January 3, 2004,
(the "Report") which this statement accompanies, fully complies with
requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and;

         (2) The information contained in this Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of X-Rite,
Incorporated, as of and for the periods covered in this report.


Date: March 16, 2004
                                       By: /s/ Michael C. Ferrara
                                          -----------------------
                                               Michael C. Ferrara


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to X-Rite, Incorporated, and will be
retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
or its staff upon request.

The foregoing certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an exhibit to the Form 10-K and shall not be considered filed as
part of the Form 10-K.