ASTM D2244-15

Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The original CIE color scales based on tristimulus values X, Y, Z and chromaticity coordinates x, y are not uniform visually. Each subsequent color scale based on CIE values has had weighting factors applied to provide some degree of uniformity so that color differences in various regions of color space will be more nearly comparable. On the other hand, color differences obtained for the same specimens evaluated in different color-scale systems are not likely to be identical. To avoid confusion, color differences among specimens or the associated tolerances should be compared only when they are obtained for the same color-scale system. There is no simple factor that can be used to convert accurately color differences or color tolerances in one system to difference or tolerance units in another system for all colors of specimens.  
5.2 Color differences calculated in ΔECMC or ΔE00 units are highly recommended for use with color-differences in the range of 0.0 to 5.0 ΔE*ab units. Both are appropriate for and widely used in industrial and commercial applications including, but not limited to, automobiles, coatings, cosmetics, inks, packaging, paints, plastics, printing, security, and textiles. The Hunter color difference components ΔLH, ΔaH, ΔbH, and their color difference unit ΔEH, are used by the coil coating and aluminum extrusion coating industries, as well as the customers of these users. They are, therefore, included in Appendix X1 for historical purposes and use.  
5.3 Users of color tolerance equations have found that, in each system, summation of three, vector color-difference components into a single scalar value is very useful for determining whether a specimen color is within a specified tolerance from a standard. However, for control of color in production, it may be necessary to know not only the magnitude of the departure from standard but also the direction of this departure. It is possible to include information on the direction of a small color ...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the calculation, from instrumentally measured color coordinates based on daylight illumination, of color tolerances and small color differences between opaque specimens such as painted panels, plastic plaques, or textile swatches. Where it is suspected that the specimens may be metameric, that is, possess different spectral curves though visually alike in color, Practice D4086 should be used to verify instrumental results. The tolerances and differences determined by these procedures are expressed in terms of approximately uniform visual color perception in CIE 1976 CIELAB opponent-color space (1),2 CMC tolerance units (2), CIE94 tolerance units (3), the DIN99 color difference formula given in DIN 6176 (4), or the new CIEDE2000 color difference units (5).  
1.2 For product specification, the purchaser and the seller shall agree upon the permissible color tolerance between test specimen and reference and the procedure for calculating the color tolerance. Each material and condition of use may require specific color tolerances because other appearance factors, (for example, specimen proximity, gloss, and texture), may affect the correlation between the magnitude of a measured color difference and its commercial acceptability.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2014
• ICS: 17.180.20 - Colours and measurement of light
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.04 - Color and Appearance Analysis

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2244-14 - Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM D2244-15e1 - Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM C609-20 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Light Reflectance Value and Small Color Differences Between Pieces of Ceramic Tile
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D6577-15(2019) - Standard Guide for Testing Industrial Protective Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D6531-00(2019) - Standard Test Method for Relative Tinting Strength of Aqueous Ink Systems by Instrumental Measurement
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B915-22 - Standard Test Method for Measuring Static Heat Resistance of Self-Cleaning Oven Coating
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D5146-10(2019) - Standard Guide to Testing Solvent-Borne Architectural Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D5031/D5031M-13(2018) - Standard Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposure Tests of Paint and Related Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1331-15(2019) - Standard Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Hemispherical Geometry
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D2243-20 - Standard Test Method for Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Water-Borne Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D4477-22 - Standard Specification for Rigid (Unplasticized) Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Soffit
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D1006/D1006M-21 - Standard Practice for Conducting Exterior Exposure Tests of Hand and Factory Applied Paints on Wood and Wood Composite Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D4141/D4141M-22 - Standard Practice for Conducting Black Box and Solar Concentrating Exposures of Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D4726-18 - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Exterior-Profile Extrusions Used for Assembled Windows and Doors
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM G178-16(2023) - Standard Practice for Determining the Activation Spectrum of a Material (Wavelength Sensitivity to an Exposure Source) Using the Sharp Cut-On Filter or Spectrographic Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D2244 − 15
StandardPractice for
Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from
1
Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2244; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This practice originally resulted from the consolidation of a number of separately published
methodsfortheinstrumentalevaluationofcolordifferences.Asrevisedin1979,itincludedfourcolor
spaces in which color-scale values could be measured by instruments, many of which were obsolete,
and the color differences calculated by ten equations for different color scales. The sections on
apparatus,calibrationstandardsandmethods,andmeasurementproceduresservedlittlepurposeinthe
lightofmoderncolor-measurementtechnology.Therevisionpublishedin1993omittedthesesections,
and limited the color spaces and color-difference equations considered, to the three most widely used
inthepaintandrelatedcoatingsindustry.Apreviousrevisionaddedtwonewcolortoleranceequations
and put two of the color difference equations from the 1993 version in an informative appendix for
historical purposes.
1. Scope* example, specimen proximity, gloss, and texture), may affect
the correlation between the magnitude of a measured color
1.1 Thispracticecoversthecalculation,frominstrumentally
difference and its commercial acceptability.
measured color coordinates based on daylight illumination, of
color tolerances and small color differences between opaque
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
specimens such as painted panels, plastic plaques, or textile
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
swatches. Where it is suspected that the specimens may be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
metameric, that is, possess different spectral curves though
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
visuallyalikeincolor,PracticeD4086shouldbeusedtoverify
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
instrumentalresults.Thetolerancesanddifferencesdetermined
by these procedures are expressed in terms of approximately
2. Referenced Documents
uniform visual color perception in CIE 1976 CIELAB
2
3
opponent-color space (1), CMC tolerance units (2), CIE94
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tolerance units (3), the DIN99 color difference formula given
D1729Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color
in DIN 6176(4), or the new CIEDE2000 color difference units
Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
(5).
D4086Practice for Visual Evaluation of Metamerism
E284Terminology of Appearance
1.2 For product specification, the purchaser and the seller
shall agree upon the permissible color tolerance between test E308PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
specimen and reference and the procedure for calculating the
the CIE System
colortolerance.Eachmaterialandconditionofusemayrequire
E805Practice for Identification of Instrumental Methods of
specific color tolerances because other appearance factors, (for
Color or Color-Difference Measurement of Materials
E1164PracticeforObtainingSpectrometricDataforObject-
Color Evaluation
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.04 on Color and
Appearance Analysis.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published January 2015. Originally
3
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D2244–14. DOI: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
10.1520/D2244-15. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
this standard. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D2244 − 15
2.2 Other Standards: are computed, from these color-scale values, and approximate
DIN 6176Farbmetrische, Bestimmung von Farbabständen the perceived color differences between the reference and the
4
bei Körperfarben nach der DIN99-Formel test specimen.
5. Significance and Use
3. Terminology
5.1 The original CIE color scales based on tristimulus
3.1 Terms and definitions in Terminology E284 are appli-
valu
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D2244 − 14 D2244 − 15
Standard Practice for
Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from
1
Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2244; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This practice originally resulted from the consolidation of a number of separately published
methods for the instrumental evaluation of color differences. As revised in 1979, it included four color
spaces in which color-scale values could be measured by instruments, many of which were obsolete,
and the color differences calculated by ten equations for different color scales. The sections on
apparatus, calibration standards and methods, and measurement procedures served little purpose in the
light of modern color-measurement technology. The revision published in 1993 omitted these sections,
and limited the color spaces and color-difference equations considered, to the three most widely used
in the paint and related coatings industry. A previous revision added two new color tolerance equations
and put two of the color difference equations from the 1993 version in an informative appendix for
historical purposes.
1. Scope*
1.1 This practice covers the calculation, from instrumentally measured color coordinates based on daylight illumination, of
color tolerances and small color differences between opaque specimens such as painted panels, plastic plaques, or textile swatches.
Where it is suspected that the specimens may be metameric, that is, possess different spectral curves though visually alike in color,
Practice D4086 should be used to verify instrumental results. The tolerances and differences determined by these procedures are
2
expressed in terms of approximately uniform visual color perception in CIE 1976 CIELAB opponent-color space (1), CMC
tolerance units (2), CIE94 tolerance units (3), the DIN99 color difference formula given in DIN 6176(4), or the new CIEDE2000
color difference units (5).
1.2 For product specification, the purchaser and the seller shall agree upon the permissible color tolerance between test
specimen and reference and the procedure for calculating the color tolerance. Each material and condition of use may require
specific color tolerances because other appearance factors, (for example, specimen proximity, gloss, and texture), may affect the
correlation between the magnitude of a measured color difference and its commercial acceptability.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
requirements prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
D4086 Practice for Visual Evaluation of Metamerism
E284 Terminology of Appearance
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.04 on Color and
Appearance Analysis.
Current edition approved May 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2015. Published May 2014January 2015. Originally approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 20112014 as
D2244 – 11.D2244 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/D2244-14.10.1520/D2244-15.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D2244 − 15
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
E805 Practice for Identification of Instrumental Methods of Color or Color-Difference Measurement of Materials
E1164 Practice for Obtai
...