CIE
XYZ:
The basic CIE colour space, or colour
model, is based on a 'Standard Observer and 'Standard Illuminants' (D50, D65,
etc.). This is a numerical model of colour sensitivity based on research commenced
in the 1920s on a sample of people with normal colour vision. It is a
'universal colour space' representing the colour spectrum visible to the
'average human'. The light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye has three
types of receptors near the centre, known as cones.
They are sensitive to the three primaries, 'red, green and blue'. The CIE XYZ tristimulus values are assigned to the red,
green and blue curves respectively. These approximate to the cones in the eye. The relative
response of each is plotted on a diagram against the wavelength in nanometers.
The eye also has rods, outside of the
retina's centre, which are sensitive to low-wavelength light and which only
operate at low levels of illumination. There are two axes: vertical and
horizontal.
The vertical axis represents Relative Response 0 -
2.0 (shown here) or Reflective Intensity 0 - 120% (not shown).
The horizontal axis represents
Wavelength in nanometers, usually from about 380 to about 720nm.
It should be emphasized that this is a
'device-independent' colour space in which each primary colour (X,Y,Z) is always constant,
unlike RGB which varies with every individual device (monitor, scanner,
camera, etc.). XYZ is typically used to report the spectral response of a
sample measured by a colorimeter or a spectrophotometer. A colorimeter may
contain as few as three sensors, one each for red, green and blue, (or X, Y and
Z), and will typically be used for display calibration and profiling. A
spectrophotometer will report the entire spectral response at frequent
intervals along the spectrum, say every 10 nanometres, and will typically be
used to measure printed sheets to control a press or create an ICC profile.
While CIE XYZ is used to report colour
from measuring instruments, it is not so useful for humans to describe colour.
Another use is as the Profile Connection Space (PCS)
within an ICC profile, where it may be used instead of CIE Lab.
You may notice that the Y ('green
curve') covers the widest wavelength. This corresponds to the overall human
visual response to all colours, or lightness. It is therefore also used to
indicate luminance ('lightness').
CIE L*a*b*: In such case the vertical L* axis represents Lightness,
ranging from 0-100. The other (horizontal) axes are now represented
by a* and b*. These are at right angles to each other and cross
each other in the centre, which is neutral (grey, black or white). They are
based on the principal that a colour cannot be both red and green, or
blue and yellow.
The a* axis
is green at one extremity (represented by -a),
and red at the other (+a). The b* axis has blue at one end (-b), and yellow (+b) at
the other.
The centre of each axis is 0. A value of 0, or very low numbers of both a* and b* will
describe a neutral or near neutral. In the case of paper, the white point in terms of a* and b* is usually carried through to the
black, being gradually reduced towards '0'.
In theory there are no maximum values
of a* and b*, but in practice they are usually numbered from
-128 to +127 (256 levels).
The CIE Lab colour model encompasses
the entire spectrum, including colours outside of human vision. CIE Lab is
extensively used in many industries apart from printing and photography. Its
uses include providing exact colour specifications for paint (including
automotive, household, etc.), dyes (including textiles, plastics, etc.),
printing ink and paper.