Page 1 ©Copyright 2008
Insight on Color Vol. 13, No. 2
Hunter L, a, b Versus CIE 1976 L*a*b*
How Do They Compare?
Hunter L, a, b and CIE 1976 L*a*b* (CIELAB) are both color scales based on the Opponent-Colors
Theory, which assumes that the receptors in the human eye perceive color as the following pairs of
opposites:
• Light-dark
• Red-green
• Yellow-blue.
The L value for each scale therefore indicates the level of light or dark, the a value redness or greenness,
and the b value yellowness or blueness. All three values are required to completely describe an objects
color. A three-dimensional representation of L, a, b color space is shown below.
Applications Note Vol. 13, No. 2
Page 2 ©Copyright 2008
Both the Hunter L, a, b scale and the CIELAB scale are visually meaningful; the three values can be
easily understood and translated into color. They are, however, calculated differently. The formulas for
Hunter L, a, and b are square roots using CIE XYZ, whereas CIELAB is calculated using cube roots of
XYZ. See the July 1-15, 1996 and August 1-15, 1996 Applications Notes for the formulas and more
specific information about the two scales.
Which Scale Should I Use?
So, which scale is best for you to use? Well, the CIE recommended the CIE 1976 L*a*b* scale in 1976
(Supplement No. 2 to CIE Publication No. 15, Colorimetry) as a improvement to the final version of
Hunter L, a, b that was published in 1966, so if you wish to conform to this recommendation, use
CIELAB, but as far as accuracy and descriptive value, neither Hunter L, a, b nor CIELAB clearly wins
out as the better scale. Ideally, the scale used would be perfectly uniform throughout color space,
meaning that a one unit difference between two colors would appear to be visually different by the same
amount whether red, purple, orange, or blue. However, neither Hunter L, a, b nor CIELAB is perfectly
uniform. The Hunter L, a, b scale contracts in the yellow region of color space and overexpands in the
blue region. On the other hand, the CIELAB scale, although designed specifically to be more uniform,
is still a bit over-expanded in the yellow region. This is a problem particularly when a samples CIE Z
value is less than one. The CIELAB scale generally gives better approximation to visual evaluation of
color difference for very dark colors, though, because its equations are cube roots.
The colored squares are more evenly spaced on the CIELAB charts above and
on the next page.
Applications Note Vol. 13, No. 2
Page 3 ©Copyright 2008
Specific recommendations are outlined in the table below.
Use Hunter L, a, b when: Use CIELAB when:
Pre-established specifications indicate Hunter
L, a, b or measurements will be compared to
ones made using the Hunter L, a, b scale. In
this case, the scale you use is less important
than being consistent in using the same scale
for all the measurements being shared. (The
food industry, for example, often specifies
Hunter L, a, b, so most communication of
results within this industry will be done using
this scale.)
Pre-established specifications indicate
CIELAB or measurements will be compared to
ones made using the CIELAB scale. In this
case, the scale you use is less important than
being consistent in using the same scale for all
the measurements being shared.
Historical color data was recorded in CIELAB.
You wish to conform to CIEs color scale
recommendation.
The best possible uniformity across color space
is desired.
You are measuring very dark colors.
Historical color data was recorded in Hunter L,
a, b.
You are establishing a new measurement
procedure, including indicating the color scale,
and neither of the Use Hunter L, a, b when
factors apply.
Applications Note Vol. 13, No. 2
Page 4 ©Copyright 2008
For Additional Information Contact:
Technical Services Department
Hunter Associates Laboratory, Inc.
11491 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, Virginia 20190
Telephone: 703-471-6870
FAX: 703-471-4237
www.hunterlab.com
06/08
本文档为【Hunter L,a,b Versus CIE 1976 Lab】,请使用软件OFFICE或WPS软件打开。作品中的文字与图均可以修改和编辑,
图片更改请在作品中右键图片并更换,文字修改请直接点击文字进行修改,也可以新增和删除文档中的内容。
该文档来自用户分享,如有侵权行为请发邮件ishare@vip.sina.com联系网站客服,我们会及时删除。
[版权声明] 本站所有资料为用户分享产生,若发现您的权利被侵害,请联系客服邮件isharekefu@iask.cn,我们尽快处理。
本作品所展示的图片、画像、字体、音乐的版权可能需版权方额外授权,请谨慎使用。
网站提供的党政主题相关内容(国旗、国徽、党徽..)目的在于配合国家政策宣传,仅限个人学习分享使用,禁止用于任何广告和商用目的。