Delta E Differences and Tolerances.

The difference between two colour samples is often expressed as Delta E, also called  DE, or ΔE. 'Δ' is the Greek letter for 'D'. This can be used in quality control to show whether a dyed or printed sample, such as a colour swatch or proof, is in tolerance with a reference sample or industry standard. The difference between the L*, a* and b* values of the reference and sample will be shown as Delta E (ΔE). The resulting Delta E number will show how far apart visually the two samples are in the colour 'sphere'

 CIE L*C*h°

This is possibly a little easier to comprehend than the Lab colour space, with which it shares several features. It is more correctly known as  L*c*h*.  Essentially it is in the form of a sphere. There are three axes; L* , c* and h°.  

The L* axis represents Lightness. This is vertical; from 0, which has no lightness (i.e. absolute black), at the bottom; through 50 in the middle, to 100 which is maximum lightness (i.e. absolute white) at the top.

The c* axis represents Chroma or 'saturation'. This ranges from 0 at the centre of the circle, which is completely unsaturated (i.e. a neutral grey, black or white) to 100 or more at the edge of the circle for very high Chroma (saturation) or 'colour purity'.

The h* axis represents Hue. If we take a horizontal slice through the centre, cutting the 'sphere' ('apple') in half, we see a coloured circle. Around the edge of the circle we see every possible saturated colour, or Hue. This circular axis is known as h° for Hue. The units are in the form of degrees (or angles), ranging from 0° (red) through 90° (yellow), 180° (green), 270° (blue) and back to  0°. 

The Lch colour model is very useful for retouching images in a colour managed workflow, using high-end editing applications. Lch is device-independent.

CIE Color Systems

CIE Color Systems The CIE, or Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (translated as the International Commission on Illumination), is the body responsible for international recommendations for photometry and colorimetry.

In 1931 the CIE standardized color order systems by specifying the light source (or illuminants), the observer and the methodology used to derive values for describing color.

The CIE system characterizes colour by a luminance Y and two colour coordinates x and y which specify the point on the chromatic diagram. This system offers more precision in colour measurement than do the Munsell system because the parameters are based on the spectral power distribution of the light emitted from a coloured object and is factored by sensitivity curves which have been measured for the human eye.

Based on the fact that the human eye has three different types of color sensitive cones, the response of the eye is best described in terms of three "tristimulus values". However, once this is accomplished, it is found that any color can be expressed in terms of the two color coordinates x and y.

The colors which can be matched by combining a given set of three primary colors (such as the blue, green, and red) are represented on the chromaticity diagram by a triangle joining the coordinates for the three colors.

The diagram given below represents the  mapping of human color perception in terms of two CIE parameters x and y. The spectral colors are distributed around the edge of the "color space" as shown, and that outline includes all of the perceived hues and provides a framework for investigating color.

The CIE Color Systems utilize three coordinates to locate a color in a color space. These color spaces include:

• CIE XYZ

• CIE L*a*b*

• CIE L*C*h°

CIE Color Systems

CIE Color Systems The CIE, or Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (translated as the International Commission on Illumination), is the body responsible for international recommendations for photometry and colorimetry.

In 1931 the CIE standardized color order systems by specifying the light source (or illuminants), the observer and the methodology used to derive values for describing color. The CIE Color Systems utilize three coordinates to locate a color in a color space. These color spaces include:

• CIE XYZ

• CIE L*a*b*

• CIE L*C*h°