diff --git a/ANNOUNCE b/ANNOUNCE
index fcce7a0..b5e1dbe 100644
--- a/ANNOUNCE
+++ b/ANNOUNCE
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Libpng 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+Libpng 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
 
 This is not intended to be a public release. It will be replaced
 within a few weeks by a public version or by another test version.
@@ -8,20 +8,20 @@
 Source files with LF line endings (for Unix/Linux) and with a
 "configure" script
 
-   1.6.31beta07.tar.xz (LZMA-compressed, recommended)
-   1.6.31beta07.tar.gz
+   1.6.31rc01.tar.xz (LZMA-compressed, recommended)
+   1.6.31rc01.tar.gz
 
 Source files with CRLF line endings (for Windows), without the
 "configure" script
 
-   lp1631b07.7z  (LZMA-compressed, recommended)
-   lp1631b07.zip
+   lp1631r01.7z  (LZMA-compressed, recommended)
+   lp1631r01.zip
 
 Other information:
 
-   1.6.31beta07-README.txt
-   1.6.31beta07-LICENSE.txt
-   libpng-1.6.31beta07-*.asc (armored detached GPG signatures)
+   1.6.31rc01-README.txt
+   1.6.31rc01-LICENSE.txt
+   libpng-1.6.31rc01-*.asc (armored detached GPG signatures)
 
 Changes since the last public release (1.6.30):
 
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@
 Version 1.6.31beta07 [July 18, 2017]
   Revised the eXIf chunk in pngtest.png to fix "Bad IFD1 Directory" warning.
 
+Version 1.6.31rc01 [July 19, 2017]
+  No changes.
+
 Send comments/corrections/commendations to png-mng-implement at lists.sf.net
 (subscription required; visit
 https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/png-mng-implement
diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index d8dde21..d2a6b9b 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -5898,6 +5898,9 @@
 Version 1.6.31beta07 [July 18, 2017]
   Revised the eXIf chunk in pngtest.png to fix "Bad IFD1 Directory" warning.
 
+Version 1.6.31rc01 [July 19, 2017]
+  No changes.
+
 Send comments/corrections/commendations to png-mng-implement at lists.sf.net
 (subscription required; visit
 https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/png-mng-implement
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a92f03d..182433a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@
 # SET UP LINKS
 if(PNG_SHARED)
   set_target_properties(png PROPERTIES
-#   VERSION 16.${PNGLIB_RELEASE}.1.6.31beta07
+#   VERSION 16.${PNGLIB_RELEASE}.1.6.31rc01
     VERSION 16.${PNGLIB_RELEASE}.0
     SOVERSION 16
     CLEAN_DIRECT_OUTPUT 1)
diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
index ddca1e1..9b66c1f 100644
--- a/LICENSE
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 This code is released under the libpng license.
 
-libpng versions 1.0.7, July 1, 2000 through 1.6.31beta07, July 18, 2017 are
+libpng versions 1.0.7, July 1, 2000 through 1.6.31rc01, July 19, 2017 are
 Copyright (c) 2000-2002, 2004, 2006-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson, are
 derived from libpng-1.0.6, and are distributed according to the same
 disclaimer and license as libpng-1.0.6 with the following individuals
diff --git a/README b/README
index 71b80d9..80eb0c5 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-README for libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017 (shared library 16.0)
+README for libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017 (shared library 16.0)
 See the note about version numbers near the top of png.h
 
 See INSTALL for instructions on how to install libpng.
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6c0bb3b..1d88ceb 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 dnl Version number stuff here:
 
-AC_INIT([libpng],[1.6.31beta07],[png-mng-implement@lists.sourceforge.net])
+AC_INIT([libpng],[1.6.31rc01],[png-mng-implement@lists.sourceforge.net])
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([scripts])
 
 # libpng does not follow GNU file name conventions (hence 'foreign')
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 dnl AM_PREREQ([1.11.2])
 dnl stop configure from automagically running automake
 
-PNGLIB_VERSION=1.6.31beta07
+PNGLIB_VERSION=1.6.31rc01
 PNGLIB_MAJOR=1
 PNGLIB_MINOR=6
 PNGLIB_RELEASE=31
diff --git a/libpng-manual.txt b/libpng-manual.txt
index 38c7548..3ffd5b8 100644
--- a/libpng-manual.txt
+++ b/libpng-manual.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 libpng-manual.txt - A description on how to use and modify libpng
 
- libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+ libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
  Updated and distributed by Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  <glennrp at users.sourceforge.net>
  Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
  Based on:
 
- libpng versions 0.97, January 1998, through 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+ libpng versions 0.97, January 1998, through 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
  Updated and distributed by Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
 
@@ -5404,7 +5404,7 @@
 an official declaration.
 
 This is your unofficial assurance that libpng from version 0.71 and
-upward through 1.6.31beta07 are Y2K compliant.  It is my belief that earlier
+upward through 1.6.31rc01 are Y2K compliant.  It is my belief that earlier
 versions were also Y2K compliant.
 
 Libpng only has two year fields.  One is a 2-byte unsigned integer
diff --git a/libpng.3 b/libpng.3
index 1a060ed..da87b8f 100644
--- a/libpng.3
+++ b/libpng.3
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-.TH LIBPNG 3 "July 18, 2017"
+.TH LIBPNG 3 "July 19, 2017"
 .SH NAME
-libpng \- Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Reference Library 1.6.31beta07
+libpng \- Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Reference Library 1.6.31rc01
 .SH SYNOPSIS
 \fB
 #include <png.h>\fP
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@
 .SH LIBPNG.TXT
 libpng-manual.txt - A description on how to use and modify libpng
 
- libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+ libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
  Updated and distributed by Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  <glennrp at users.sourceforge.net>
  Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@
 
  Based on:
 
- libpng versions 0.97, January 1998, through 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+ libpng versions 0.97, January 1998, through 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
  Updated and distributed by Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
 
@@ -5918,7 +5918,7 @@
 an official declaration.
 
 This is your unofficial assurance that libpng from version 0.71 and
-upward through 1.6.31beta07 are Y2K compliant.  It is my belief that earlier
+upward through 1.6.31rc01 are Y2K compliant.  It is my belief that earlier
 versions were also Y2K compliant.
 
 Libpng only has two year fields.  One is a 2-byte unsigned integer
@@ -6076,7 +6076,7 @@
 
 Thanks to Frank J. T. Wojcik for helping with the documentation.
 
-Libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017:
+Libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017:
 Initially created in 1995 by Guy Eric Schalnat, then of Group 42, Inc.
 Currently maintained by Glenn Randers-Pehrson (glennrp at users.sourceforge.net).
 
@@ -6101,7 +6101,7 @@
 
 This code is released under the libpng license.
 
-libpng versions 1.0.7, July 1, 2000 through 1.6.31beta07, July 18, 2017 are
+libpng versions 1.0.7, July 1, 2000 through 1.6.31rc01, July 19, 2017 are
 Copyright (c) 2000-2002, 2004, 2006-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson, are
 derived from libpng-1.0.6, and are distributed according to the same
 disclaimer and license as libpng-1.0.6 with the following individuals
@@ -6229,7 +6229,7 @@
 
 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
 glennrp at users.sourceforge.net
-July 18, 2017
+July 19, 2017
 
 .\" end of man page
 
diff --git a/libpngpf.3 b/libpngpf.3
index a931825..602559b 100644
--- a/libpngpf.3
+++ b/libpngpf.3
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 .TH LIBPNGPF 3 "April 1, 2017"
 .SH NAME
-libpng \- Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Reference Library 1.6.31beta07
+libpng \- Portable Network Graphics (PNG) Reference Library 1.6.31rc01
 (private functions)
 .SH SYNOPSIS
 \fB\fB#include \fI\fI"pngpriv.h"
diff --git a/png.c b/png.c
index 36e9de8..87fda0b 100644
--- a/png.c
+++ b/png.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include "pngpriv.h"
 
 /* Generate a compiler error if there is an old png.h in the search path. */
-typedef png_libpng_version_1_6_31beta07 Your_png_h_is_not_version_1_6_31beta07;
+typedef png_libpng_version_1_6_31rc01 Your_png_h_is_not_version_1_6_31rc01;
 
 #ifdef __GNUC__
 /* The version tests may need to be added to, but the problem warning has
@@ -806,14 +806,14 @@
 #else
 #  ifdef __STDC__
    return PNG_STRING_NEWLINE \
-      "libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017" PNG_STRING_NEWLINE \
+      "libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017" PNG_STRING_NEWLINE \
       "Copyright (c) 1998-2002,2004,2006-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson" \
       PNG_STRING_NEWLINE \
       "Copyright (c) 1996-1997 Andreas Dilger" PNG_STRING_NEWLINE \
       "Copyright (c) 1995-1996 Guy Eric Schalnat, Group 42, Inc." \
       PNG_STRING_NEWLINE;
 #  else
-   return "libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017\
+   return "libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017\
       Copyright (c) 1998-2002,2004,2006-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson\
       Copyright (c) 1996-1997 Andreas Dilger\
       Copyright (c) 1995-1996 Guy Eric Schalnat, Group 42, Inc.";
diff --git a/png.h b/png.h
index d201f59..80ecc82 100644
--- a/png.h
+++ b/png.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 /* png.h - header file for PNG reference library
  *
- * libpng version 1.6.31beta07, July 18, 2017
+ * libpng version 1.6.31rc01, July 19, 2017
  *
  * Copyright (c) 1998-2002,2004,2006-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  * (Version 0.96 Copyright (c) 1996, 1997 Andreas Dilger)
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
  * Authors and maintainers:
  *   libpng versions 0.71, May 1995, through 0.88, January 1996: Guy Schalnat
  *   libpng versions 0.89, June 1996, through 0.96, May 1997: Andreas Dilger
- *   libpng versions 0.97, January 1998, through 1.6.31beta07, July 18, 2017:
+ *   libpng versions 0.97, January 1998, through 1.6.31rc01, July 19, 2017:
  *     Glenn Randers-Pehrson.
  *   See also "Contributing Authors", below.
  */
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
  *
  * This code is released under the libpng license.
  *
- * libpng versions 1.0.7, July 1, 2000 through 1.6.31beta07, July 18, 2017 are
+ * libpng versions 1.0.7, July 1, 2000 through 1.6.31rc01, July 19, 2017 are
  * Copyright (c) 2000-2002, 2004, 2006-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson, are
  * derived from libpng-1.0.6, and are distributed according to the same
  * disclaimer and license as libpng-1.0.6 with the following individuals
@@ -241,13 +241,13 @@
  * Y2K compliance in libpng:
  * =========================
  *
- *    July 18, 2017
+ *    July 19, 2017
  *
  *    Since the PNG Development group is an ad-hoc body, we can't make
  *    an official declaration.
  *
  *    This is your unofficial assurance that libpng from version 0.71 and
- *    upward through 1.6.31beta07 are Y2K compliant.  It is my belief that
+ *    upward through 1.6.31rc01 are Y2K compliant.  It is my belief that
  *    earlier versions were also Y2K compliant.
  *
  *    Libpng only has two year fields.  One is a 2-byte unsigned integer
@@ -309,8 +309,8 @@
  */
 
 /* Version information for png.h - this should match the version in png.c */
-#define PNG_LIBPNG_VER_STRING "1.6.31beta07"
-#define PNG_HEADER_VERSION_STRING " libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017\n"
+#define PNG_LIBPNG_VER_STRING "1.6.31rc01"
+#define PNG_HEADER_VERSION_STRING " libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017\n"
 
 #define PNG_LIBPNG_VER_SONUM   16
 #define PNG_LIBPNG_VER_DLLNUM  16
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@
  * PNG_LIBPNG_VER_STRING, omitting any leading zero:
  */
 
-#define PNG_LIBPNG_VER_BUILD  07
+#define PNG_LIBPNG_VER_BUILD  01
 
 /* Release Status */
 #define PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_ALPHA    1
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@
 #define PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_SPECIAL 32 /* Cannot be OR'ed with
                                        PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_PRIVATE */
 
-#define PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_BASE_TYPE PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_BETA
+#define PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_BASE_TYPE PNG_LIBPNG_BUILD_RC
 
 /* Careful here.  At one time, Guy wanted to use 082, but that would be octal.
  * We must not include leading zeros.
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@
 /* This triggers a compiler error in png.c, if png.c and png.h
  * do not agree upon the version number.
  */
-typedef char* png_libpng_version_1_6_31beta07;
+typedef char* png_libpng_version_1_6_31rc01;
 
 /* Basic control structions.  Read libpng-manual.txt or libpng.3 for more info.
  *
diff --git a/pngconf.h b/pngconf.h
index d12488c..9308d6a 100644
--- a/pngconf.h
+++ b/pngconf.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 /* pngconf.h - machine configurable file for libpng
  *
- * libpng version 1.6.31beta07, July 18, 2017
+ * libpng version 1.6.31rc01, July 19, 2017
  *
  * Copyright (c) 1998-2002,2004,2006-2016 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  * (Version 0.96 Copyright (c) 1996, 1997 Andreas Dilger)
diff --git a/pngtest.c b/pngtest.c
index 1e9f259..78b3c51 100644
--- a/pngtest.c
+++ b/pngtest.c
@@ -2104,4 +2104,4 @@
 #endif
 
 /* Generate a compiler error if there is an old png.h in the search path. */
-typedef png_libpng_version_1_6_31beta07 Your_png_h_is_not_version_1_6_31beta07;
+typedef png_libpng_version_1_6_31rc01 Your_png_h_is_not_version_1_6_31rc01;
diff --git a/projects/vstudio/README.txt b/projects/vstudio/README.txt
index 38581e1..11acce2 100644
--- a/projects/vstudio/README.txt
+++ b/projects/vstudio/README.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 VisualStudio instructions
 
-libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
 
 Copyright (c) 2010,2013,2015 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
 
diff --git a/projects/vstudio/zlib.props b/projects/vstudio/zlib.props
index 93f7b41..6ad6218 100644
--- a/projects/vstudio/zlib.props
+++ b/projects/vstudio/zlib.props
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <!--
  * zlib.props - location of zlib source
  *
- * libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+ * libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
  *
  * Copyright (c) 1998-2011 Glenn Randers-Pehrson
  *
diff --git a/scripts/README.txt b/scripts/README.txt
index 806ea81..d906ded 100644
--- a/scripts/README.txt
+++ b/scripts/README.txt
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 
-Makefiles for  libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017
+Makefiles for  libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017
 
 pnglibconf.h.prebuilt       =>  Stores configuration settings
  makefile.linux    =>  Linux/ELF makefile
-                       (gcc, creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31beta07)
+                       (gcc, creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31rc01)
  makefile.linux-opt=>  Linux/ELF makefile with hardware optimizations on
-                       (gcc, creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31beta07)
+                       (gcc, creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31rc01)
  makefile.gcc      =>  Generic makefile (gcc, creates static libpng.a)
  makefile.knr      =>  Archaic UNIX Makefile that converts files with
                        ansi2knr (Requires ansi2knr.c from
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@
  makefile.os2      =>  OS/2 Makefile (gcc and emx, requires libpng.def)
  makefile.sco      =>  For SCO OSr5  ELF and Unixware 7 with Native cc
  makefile.sggcc    =>  Silicon Graphics (gcc,
-                       creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31beta07)
+                       creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31rc01)
  makefile.sgi      =>  Silicon Graphics IRIX makefile (cc, creates static lib)
  makefile.solaris  =>  Solaris 2.X makefile (gcc,
-                       creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31beta07)
+                       creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31rc01)
  makefile.so9      =>  Solaris 9 makefile (gcc,
-                       creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31beta07)
+                       creates libpng16.so.16.1.6.31rc01)
  makefile.std      =>  Generic UNIX makefile (cc, creates static libpng.a)
  makefile.sunos    =>  Sun makefile
  makefile.32sunu   =>  Sun Ultra 32-bit makefile
diff --git a/scripts/def.c b/scripts/def.c
index e9175b7..7836847 100644
--- a/scripts/def.c
+++ b/scripts/def.c
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 PNG_DFN "OS2 CODE PRELOAD MOVEABLE DISCARDABLE"
 PNG_DFN ""
 PNG_DFN "EXPORTS"
-PNG_DFN ";Version 1.6.31beta07"
+PNG_DFN ";Version 1.6.31rc01"
 
 #define PNG_EXPORTA(ordinal, type, name, args, attributes)\
         PNG_DFN "@" SYMBOL_PREFIX "@@" name "@"
diff --git a/scripts/libpng-config-head.in b/scripts/libpng-config-head.in
index 6009c94..a445674 100644
--- a/scripts/libpng-config-head.in
+++ b/scripts/libpng-config-head.in
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 # Modeled after libxml-config.
 
-version=1.6.31beta07
+version=1.6.31rc01
 prefix=""
 libdir=""
 libs=""
diff --git a/scripts/libpng.pc.in b/scripts/libpng.pc.in
index 8d1c73b..d3e7cde 100644
--- a/scripts/libpng.pc.in
+++ b/scripts/libpng.pc.in
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@
 
 Name: libpng
 Description: Loads and saves PNG files
-Version: 1.6.31beta07
+Version: 1.6.31rc01
 Libs: -L${libdir} -lpng16
 Cflags: -I${includedir}
diff --git a/scripts/makefile.ne12bsd b/scripts/makefile.ne12bsd
index 7c7c94e..651999c 100644
--- a/scripts/makefile.ne12bsd
+++ b/scripts/makefile.ne12bsd
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 LIB=	png16
 SHLIB_MAJOR=	0
-SHLIB_MINOR=	1.6.31beta07
+SHLIB_MINOR=	1.6.31rc01
 SRCS=	png.c pngset.c pngget.c pngrutil.c pngtrans.c pngwutil.c \
 	pngread.c pngrio.c pngwio.c pngwrite.c pngrtran.c \
 	pngwtran.c pngmem.c pngerror.c pngpread.c
diff --git a/scripts/makefile.netbsd b/scripts/makefile.netbsd
index 55ba829..e171c31 100644
--- a/scripts/makefile.netbsd
+++ b/scripts/makefile.netbsd
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 LIB=	png
 SHLIB_MAJOR=	16
-SHLIB_MINOR=	1.6.31beta07
+SHLIB_MINOR=	1.6.31rc01
 SRCS=	png.c pngset.c pngget.c pngrutil.c pngtrans.c pngwutil.c \
 	pngread.c pngrio.c pngwio.c pngwrite.c pngrtran.c \
 	pngwtran.c pngmem.c pngerror.c pngpread.c
diff --git a/scripts/makefile.openbsd b/scripts/makefile.openbsd
index 612cd0b..7c2879e 100644
--- a/scripts/makefile.openbsd
+++ b/scripts/makefile.openbsd
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 MANDIR= ${PREFIX}/man/cat
 
 SHLIB_MAJOR=	16
-SHLIB_MINOR=	1.6.31beta07
+SHLIB_MINOR=	1.6.31rc01
 
 LIB=	png
 SRCS=	png.c pngerror.c pngget.c pngmem.c pngpread.c \
diff --git a/scripts/pnglibconf.h.prebuilt b/scripts/pnglibconf.h.prebuilt
index a2d50b4..8738ebd 100644
--- a/scripts/pnglibconf.h.prebuilt
+++ b/scripts/pnglibconf.h.prebuilt
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-/* libpng 1.6.31beta07 STANDARD API DEFINITION */
+/* libpng 1.6.31rc01 STANDARD API DEFINITION */
 
 /* pnglibconf.h - library build configuration */
 
-/* Libpng version 1.6.31beta07 - July 18, 2017 */
+/* Libpng version 1.6.31rc01 - July 19, 2017 */
 
 /* Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Glenn Randers-Pehrson */
 
diff --git a/scripts/symbols.def b/scripts/symbols.def
index c76848d..af49d89 100644
--- a/scripts/symbols.def
+++ b/scripts/symbols.def
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-;Version 1.6.31beta07
+;Version 1.6.31rc01
 ;--------------------------------------------------------------
 ; LIBPNG symbol list as a Win32 DEF file
 ; Contains all the symbols that can be exported from libpng