Section 3: Visual

Quality Control

© GretagMacbeth
Fundamentals of Color and Appearance
 ASTM D1729-89

•Defined method to control variables which can

occur during visual evaluation
•Extremely important when attempting to
communicate color results within companies
or to suppliers & customers

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Key Elements of a Visual Color
Evaluation Program
• Light Source Selection
• Viewing Conditions
• Color Standards & Sample Preparation
• Color Vision Testing
• Metamerism Evaluation
• Communicating Color Differences

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Light Source Selection

• Make certain that everyone use the same

light source

• If there is an established procedure, choose

the specified light source(s)

• Choose a light source that fits your needs

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Light Sources

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Viewing Geometry

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Correct Viewing Geometry

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Metamerism

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Reflectance Curves of
a Metameric Pair

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Geometric Metamerism

• Samples that match at one angle of

illumination, but do not match when the angle
of illumination or viewing angle is changed
• Often occurs with materials such as velvets,
suedes, broadlooms, and plastics

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Observer Metamerism

• Samples that appear to match to a group of observers,

but do not match to an individual observer
• This individual could have slightly variant color vision
• Color vision and discrimination tests provide some
insight into the differences between observers

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Color Standards

• To make visual color evaluations, a trial must

compared to a standard

• A physical standard is a piece of material that

represents the ideal color

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Color Standard Characteristics

• Stability • Consistency
• Reproducibility • Uniformity
• Availability • Representation

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Sample Preparation

• Directionality • Fluorescence
• Opacity, translucency • Surface (texture, curvature)
or transparency • Surround
• Photochromism • Pressure or tension
• Thermochromism • Size & overall shape

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Visual Tolerancing

• Perceptibility - our ability to see color difference

• Acceptability - the color difference we are willing
to accept
• Acceptability is not absolute and is entwined with
the psychology of color perceptions
• Specialized color charts help companies establish
visual tolerances for their colors

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 ®
Munsell Color Tolerance Set
• Target color plus six other
representing the limits for
each of the three dimensions
of color

• Limits can be established in

any color space

• Color and limits are specified

by customer

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Color Vision and Color
Discrimination Tests
• Dvorine Book of Pseudoisochromatic Plates
• Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test
• Inter-Society Color Council Color Matching Aptitude Test
• Japanese Color Aptitude Test
• Farnsworth Lantern
• HVC Color Vision Skill Test

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Communicating Color Information

• Understanding the three attributes - hue,

value & chroma is critical
• Standardizing the language minimizes the
error caused by a miscommunication

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Communicating Changes in Hue

Communicated in terms of redder, yellower, greener or bluer

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Communicating Changes in Value

Value is almost always communicated using

the terms lighter and darker

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Communicating Changes in Chroma

Is often described as more saturated or less saturated

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Visual Color Evaluation
Documentation

• Ensures that everyone is following your standard

• This written method should be communicated to:
– customers
– suppliers
– anyone involved in your color decisions

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Visual Color Evaluation Method – Sample Outline
1. Viewing Conditions
Lighting Product: GretagMacbeth SpectraLight® III with UV
Primary Light Source: D65 Filtered Tungsten
Secondary Light Sources: Cool White Fluorescent and Illuminant A
Viewing Geometry: 0/45
Surround: Munsell N 7/
2. Color Standards & Sample Preparation
Sample Size (standard and trial): 3” x 5” (desired)
Sample Orientation: Side-by-side, always touching
Color Standard Storage: Filed in nonacidic envelope
Color Tolerance: Munsell® Color Tolerance Set
3. Color Analysis
Color Vision Testing: Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test
Color Communication: Based on Munsell Hue Terms

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Visual Color Evaluation Limitations

• Visual color evaluation is subjective

• Color differences are difficult to
quantify & communicate
• Illumination needs to be controlled
(intensity, angle of view, and so forth)
• The surround needs to be controlled

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Section 4: Instrumentation

© GretagMacbeth
Fundamentals of Color and Appearance
 Instrumentation
Colorimeter:
• Filter Based (3 or 4)
• Fixed Illuminant (C/D65)
• Fixed Observer (2˚ or 10˚)
• Tungsten Halogen Light Source
• No Metamerism Testing
• Colorimetric Data (XYZ, L*a*b*)
• Quality Control
Fundamentals of Color and Appearance
Spectrophotometer:
• Fixed Grating & Array
• Multiple Illuminant
• Choice of Observer
• Pulsed Xenon Light Source
• Metamerism Detection
• Spectral & Color Data
• Q.C., R&D, Formulation, etc.
 Spectrophotometers

• Analyzes spectral distribution of reflected

or transmitted light wavelength by
wavelength, across the visible spectrum
• Measures the ratio of reflection or
transmission by a specimen relative to a
reference standard

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Pulsed Xenon vs Tungsten Halogen

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 0/45 and 45/0 Geometries

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Integrating Sphere Optics

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 SCI vs SCE Geometry

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 SCI vs SCE Uses
SCI: SCE:
• Includes all angles of illumination • Good correlation with visual
• Measurement independent of assessment
sample surface (gloss or texture) • Characterizes effects of
• Measurement of true color sample surface

• Sample must touch the sphere • Appearance only arrangement

• Widely used for color matching • Non-contact possible, for
on-line applications
• Values similar to 0/45,
depending on gloss level

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Use and Care of
Instrument Standards

• Permanent reference base against which

instrumental measurements are made
• Accuracy and precision of measurements
depend upon “initial calibration”
• Should be handled with care & stored properly

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Instrument Precision
• Repeatability - the deviation from mean experienced
when measuring a single specimen on a single instrument
• Reproducibility (interinstrument agreement) - the
deviation from mean experience between instruments
of a “given type”
• Instrument Accuracy - the deviation from an accepted
reference level

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

GretagMacbeth Spectrophotometers

Instrument Geometry Repeatability Interinstrument

®
Color-Eye XTH
®
Color-Eye 7000A D/8 0.01 0.08
Color-Eye 3100 D/8 0.02 0.12
Color-Eye 2180 D/8 0.04 0.12
®
ColorChecker 545 45/0 0.04 0.12
Color-Eye 2145 45/0 0.04 0.12

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Sources of Measurement Difference
• Instrument Geometry (sphere or 45/0)
• Choice of Color Calculations (CIELab, CMC, LCh)
• Instrument Setup (SCI or SCE, UV Included or Excluded)
• Area of View (SAV or LAV)
• Sample Preparation
• Sample Measurement
• Orientation
• Backing or Thickness
• Pressure
• Tension
• Single or Multiple Measurement

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Multiple Light Source
Multiangle Measuring System

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Single Light Source Multiangle
Viewing System

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Multiple vs Single Light
Source Systems
Multiple Light Source System Single Light Source System
• GretagMacbeth/Xenon • Other/Tungsten
• Short Measurement Time • Long Measurement Time
• Good Wavelength Resolution • Poor Wavelength Resolution
• Good Interintrustment Agreement* • Poor Interintrustment Agreement

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Glossmeter Design

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Section 5: Instrumental
Quality Control

© GretagMacbeth
Fundamentals of Color and Appearance
 Selection of Standard
• Size
• Shape
• Thickness
• Opacity
• Quantity
• Stability

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Consistency in Color Quality Control

• Sample Preparation
• Instrument Selection & Configuration
• Mathematical Configuration

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Color Standard Selection

• Physical Standard - must meet

recommended guidelines
• Numerical Standard - defined
by spectral data

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Physical Standards

Advantages
• Allows for visual comparison
• Decreases dependency
on absolute agreement
between color measuring
systems
Disadvantages
• May change over time
(deterioration, handling)
• May be difficult to produce
or obtain several pieces
that match

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Numerical Standards
Advantages
• Electronically stored
numerical standards
are easily accessible
Fundamentals of Color and Appearance
Disadvantages
• May not be valid on a
system different from the
one on which it was first
measured
 Sample Preparation

• Directionality
• Opacity
• Photochromism
• Thermochromism
• Fluorescence

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Typical Illuminants

• Daylight Illuminants
• Illuminant A
• Fluorescent Illuminants

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Color Difference

• Numerical comparison of trials to the standard

• The difference in absolute color coordinates
between a trial and a standard
• These differences are called Deltas
• Deltas may be positive or negative

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Rectangular Coordinates L*a*b*

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Polar Coordinates L*C*h

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Creating a Tolerance
• Consistency is critical
• Specify exact calculation
• Avoid “fudge” factors between
different color equations
• Numbers should be confirmed
by visual acceptability

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Problems in Setting Color Tolerances

• It is better to start with a wide tolerance

and tighten it to acceptable limits
• Avoid setting a tolerance at the minimum
perceptible difference
• Tolerances should be agreed upon by
customer and supplier

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Rectangular Tolerances

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Polar Tolerances

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Elliptical Tolerances

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Limitations of Color
Measurement Systems

• Correlation with visual response

• Interinstrument agreement

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

 Phases of a Color Quality Program
• Design & Color Specification
• Color Matching & Formulation
• Visual & Instrumental (Hardware/Software) Analysis
• Quality Control of the Color Manufacturing Process
• Applications Procedures & Methods
• Training & Education
• Retail & Consumer Preferences

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Instrumental Color Evaluation Method - Sample Outline

INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS
1. Color Measurement
Spectrophotometer: GretagMacbeth Color-Eye® 7000A Sphere-Based (D8)
CIE Observer: 10 degree
CIE Illuminant: D65
Secondary Illuminants: Illuminant A and Cool White Fluorescent
Color Scale: L*a*b* (CIELAB)
Measurement Mode: Reflectance, SCE, UV included, LAV
Number of Measurements: AVERAGE = 3
Color Difference: CIELAB Delta E* 1.0 with no single component greater
than 60% of total
2. Gloss Measurement
Glossmeter: 60 degree
Target Gloss and Tolerance: 45 ± 2 gloss units

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

VISUAL ANALYSIS

1. Viewing Conditions
Lighting Product: GretagMacbeth SpectraLight® II with UV
Primary Light Source: D65 Filtered Tungsten
Secondary Light Source: Cool White Fluorescent and Illuminant A
Viewing Geometry: 0/45
Surround: Munsell N 7/

2. Color Standards & Sample Preparation

Sample Size (standard and trial): 3" x 5" (desired)
Sample Orientation: Side-by-side, always touching
Color Standard Storage: Filed in nonacidic envelope
Color Tolerance: Munsell® Color Tolerance Set

3. Color Analysis
Color Vision Testing: Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test
Color Communication: Based on Munsell Hue Terms

Fundamentals of Color and Appearance