Dependence of colour difference formulae on regular changes of colour coordinates in cielab colour space

Abstract

Four colour difference formulae [CIELAB (1976), CMC (2:1), CIE94 (2:1:1) and CIEDE2000 (2:1:1)] were assessed in CIELAB colour space for regular changes in colour coordinates. L*, a* and b* coordinates were changed regularly both as increasing and decreasing steps in different lightness and hue regions of the colour space. The dependence and consistency of the four formulae were researched depending on regular and constant colour coordinate changes. The aim of the empirical study was to determine if there could be a possibility of using different colour difference formulae in different hue regions of CIELAB colour space; in the region of bulk that each formula would give the best fitting and the most reliable results. The empirical study was carried out by using a special software which was prepared for the purpose. The results showed that CIELAB and CIE94 gave corresponding results with each other in the computing ranges. All the formulae showed different computing characteristics in the computation ranges. CMC formula gave the highest colour differences when computing near the grey point. It was concluded that CIEDE2000 formula suited itself the best according to the changes in computing steps. A more complicated software would be necessary to determine the sensitivity of the formulae by which the computing would be performed by changing all the coordinates (L*, a* and b*) at the same time.