Color difference

The assessment of color differences [10, 11] is at least as important as that of individual colors. There are nearly always differences between similar colors. If specimens are viewed next to each other, even very small color differences can be detected visually. Given sufficient experience and a standard system of notation, visual judgments are largely consistent from observer to observer. 

In colorimetric terms, color differences are generally characterized by the distance between two colors in one of the color notation systems, most commonly the CIELAB system. The difference determined in this way represents the total color difference. Since a color is characterized by three quantities, a color difference can also be expressed in terms of three difference components (that is, differences in the color coordinates) and thus described in greater detail. Visually equal color differences between almost equal colors may, upon colorimetric measurement, be considered distinct if the colors of one pair differ strongly from those of the other pair. The formulas for color differences are further elaborated in order to remedy this defect. 

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Finding the End Point with a Visual Indicator Most indicators for complexation titrations are organic dyes that form stable complexes with metal ions. These dyes are known as metallochromic indicators. To function as an indicator for an EDTA titration, the metal-indicator complex must possess a color different from that of the uncomplexed indicator. Furthermore, the formation constant for the metal-indicator complex must be less favorable than that for the metal-EDTA complex. 

A measure of the color developed by impurities when trimeUitate esters are produced can be correlated with the anhydride color measurement. The method measures the color difference in light transmittance between a trimellitic solution and a 3.0 N sodium hydroxide solution as a reference. The difference in light transmittance or AH (total color difference) is obtained using a colorimeter. 

The quantitative measurement of pigment or pigmented system deterioration upon exposure to heat or light used to be expressed by visual numerical standards. In modem times color differences are expressed in the CIELAB system which has become the leading method for color characterization (8). 

In the process of testing, color deviations are expressed ia the CIELAB system which projects total color differences either on the axes of the rectangular LAB or the equivalent polar LHC system (26). In either case tested samples must fall within acceptable ranges or limits estabhshed versus a standard by the pigment manufacturer and accepted by the pigment user. 

ASTM D1729, Practice for Visual Evaluation of Color Differences of Opaque Materials, Vol. 6.01, ASTM, Philadelphia, Pa., 1989. 

Another form of equalizing stains is through the use of sap stain. Color differences between the sapwood and late-growth area of the lumber can be made uniform by using this type of stain. Sap stains are usually alcohol-based dye stains that tie lighter areas of the wood into darker areas. Transparency of sap stain and equalizers is important to ensure a natural, nonpainted appearance. 

The science of color measurement has been explored by various authors (127,128). AATCC evaluation procedure no. 6 describes a method for instmmental measurement of color of a textile fabric. AATCC evaluation procedure no. 7 may be used to determine the color difference between two fabrics of a similar shade. Instmmentation may be either a spectrophotometer for measuring reflectance versus wavelength, or a colorimeter for measuring tristimulus values under specified illumination. If a spectrophotometer is used, however, the instmment must be equipped with tristimulus integrators capable of producing data in terms of CIE X, Y, and Z tristimulus values. 

Color Difference Assessment. Color difference scales include those of Judd-Hunter, Macadam, Adams-Nickerson, ANLAB, and ANLAB40. AH of these have limitations in some way or another they are described in most texts (1 4). Each appHes only to the precise conditions used in thek determination and interconversion is not possible. Modifications of CIELAB in the metric form such as the CMC(1 c) system (14) promise improved performance for the future. 

In the CIELAB and CIELUV color spaces, the difference between a batch sample and a reference standard designated with a subscript s, can be designated by its components, eg, AAL = L — L. The three-dimensional total color differences are given by EucHdian geometry as the 1976 CIE lYa b and 1976 CIE lYu Y color difference formulas ... 

There has been a tremendous change in the last two decades as computers have taken over the tedious calculations involved in color measurement. Indeed, microprocessors either are built into or are connected to all modem instmments, so that the operator may merely need to specify, for example, x,j, Y or T, i , b or T, (A, b, either for the 2° or the 10° observer, and for a specific standard illiiminant, to obtain the desired color coordinates or color differences, all of which can be stored for later reference or computation. The use of high intensity filtered Xenon flash lamps and array detectors combined with computers has resulted in almost instantaneous measurement in many instances. 

Color and Appearance Collaborative Reference Program, Collaborative Testing Services, Inc., Herndon, Va., previously MCCA-NBS Collaborative Reference Program on Color and Color Differences, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Washiagton, D. C., 1991. 

Color Difference Evaluation. Shade evaluation is comparable in importance to relative strength evaluation for dyes. This is of interest to both dye manufacturer and dye user for purposes of quaUty control. Objective evaluation of color differences is desirable because of the well-known variabihty of observers. A considerable number of color difference formulas that intend to transform the visually nonuniform International Commission on Illumination (CIE) tristimulus color space into a visually uniform space have been proposed over the years. Although many of them have proven to be of considerable practical value (Hunter Lab formula, Friele-MacAdam-Chickering (FMC) formula, Adams-Nickerson formula, etc), none has been found to be satisfactorily accurate for small color difference evaluation. Correlation coefficients for the correlation between average visually determined color difference values and those based on measurement and calculation with a formula are typically of a magnitude of approximately 0.7 or below. In the interest of uniformity of international usage, the CIE has proposed two color difference formulas (CIELAB and CIELUV) one of which (CIELAB) is particularly suitable for appHcation on textiles (see Color). 

Strand of glass fiber colored differently from the remainder of the roving package. It allows a means of determining whether equipment used to chop and spray glass fibers is functioning properly and provides a check on quality and thickness control. 

Similar to prepared metallographic samples, the injection molded samples were cut along the flow direction, smoothed, and polished in order to expose their internal surface. After proper etching, the treated surfaces of the flank cross-section were photographed using a polarized light optical microscopy. Based on the color differences between the TLCP and matrix, volume fraction and aspect ratio of the TLCP fibers were measured [23]. 

Methods are described for determining the extent to which original natural color is preserved in processing and subsequent storage of foods. Color differences may be evaluated indirectly in terms of some physical characteristic of the sample or extracted fraction thereof that is largely responsible for the color characteristics. For evaluation more directly in terms of what the observer actually sees, color differences are measured by reflectance spectrophotometry and photoelectric colorimetry and expressed as differences in psychophysical indexes such as luminous reflectance and chromaticity. The reflectance spectro-photometric method provides time-constant records in research investigation on foods, while photoelectric colorimeters and reflectometers may prove useful in industrial color applications. Psychophysical notation may be converted by standard methods to the colorimetrically more descriptive terms of Munsell hue, value, and chroma. Here color charts are useful for a direct evaluation of results. 

The objective indication of color differences in foods has usually been attempted in a simplified, indirect way that involves a comparison of some physical characteristic of the samples or, more often, an extracted fraction that is assumed or has been proved to be largely responsible for the associated color characteristics. Although such a method does not measure the actual visual color of the samples, a measure of relative amounts of color-characteristic pigments or a comparison of physical properties of extracts of color-critical fractions (which may be mixtures of several pigments) may prove to be very sensitive indications of differences that are closely related to color. 

Photoelectric-Colorimetric Method. Although the recording spectrophotometer is, for food work at least, a research tool, another instrument, the Hunter multipurpose reflectometer (4), is available and may prove to be applicable to industrial quality control. (The newer Hunter color and color difference meter which eliminates considerable calculation will probably be even more directly applicable. Another make of reflection meter has recently been made available commercially that uses filters similar to those developed by Hunter and can be used to obtain a similar type of data.) This instrument is not a spectrophotometer, for it does not primarily measure the variation of any property of samples with respect to wave length, but certain colorimetric indexes are calculated from separate readings with amber, blue, and green filters, designated A, B, and G, respectively. The most useful indexes in food color work obtainable with this type of instrument have been G, which gives a... 

Table II. Effect of Particle Size on Apparent Color Difference between Dissimilar Samples of Dehydrated Potatoes...

Conversion tables and charts now available make it possible to express I.C.I. data in forms in which a specified color and the significance of measured color differences can be more easily visualized. For example, I.C.I. values calculated from objective instrumental readings can be converted into the Munsell notation which evaluates the three psychological color attributes—hue, lightness (Munsell value), saturation (Munsell chroma)—on scales of approximately equal visual steps. In addition, the Munsell color charts offer one of the most convenient sources of material standards for direct color comparisons. 

If results of color measurements are expressed in Munsell notation, a reader can use Munsell color charts as an aid in visualizing approximate ranges of color differences involved. Such a means has been suggested (15) for expressing color of light-colored juices. The necessary experimental data were obtained with a reflection meter similar to the reflectometer described. 

With the best observing conditions, it is possible for the trained observer to compete with photoelectric colorimeters for detection of small color differences in samples which can be observed simultaneously. However, the human observer cannot ordinarily make accurate color comparisons over a period of time if memory of sample color is involved. This factor and others, such as variability among observers and color blindness, make it important to control or eliminate the subjective factor in color grading. In this respect, objective methods, which make use of instruments such as spectrophotometers or carefully calibrated colorimeters with conditions of observation carefully standardized, provide the most reliable means of obtaining precise color measurements. 

Ohmiya, Y., Hirano, T., and Ohashi, M. (1996). The structural origin of the color differences in the bioluminescence of firefly luciferase. FEBS Lett. 384 83-86. 

Obtained with a Hunter Color and Color difference Meter, Model D25... 

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