ASTM E1541-98

Standard Practice for Specifying and Matching Color Using the Colorcurve System

SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides a means for specifying the colors of objects in terms of the Colorcurve system. Both computational and visual methods are included. This practice is applicable to inked, painted, dyed, or mass-colored surfaces viewed by an observer with normal color vision.
1.2 This practice includes a method for producing a color specimen to match a Colorcurve sample.
1.3 This practice does not cover the preparation of specimens. If specimen preparation is required in conjunction with this practice, a mutually agreed upon procedure shall be established.
1.4 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 limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-1998
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.07 - Color Order Systems

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E1541-98(2003) - Standard Practice for Specifying and Matching Color Using the Colorcurve System (Withdrawn 2007)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: E 1541 – 98
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Specifying and Matching Color Using the Colorcurve
1
System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1541; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
2
The COLORCURVEt System provides a systematic array of color samples whose arrangement
has a simple relationship to the international CIE 1964 system, described in Test Method E 308 and
used widely in industry to specify color and color differences from instrumental measurements. The
system is based on four main elements: (1) aim points displayed on CIE (CIELAB) a*, b* planes at
constant L*; (2) atlases containing physical representations of those aim points; (3) tables of spectral
and colorimetric data for those aim points; and (4) computational methods and computer software that
furnish Colorcurve notations and reflectances when CIE data are entered, or tristimulus values and
reflectance data when Colorcurve notations are entered. The tristimulus data can be used in color
formulation software to formulate specimens with minimum metamerism to the atlas samples.
The Master Atlas consists of 1231 atlas samples approximating the computed aim points and the
corresponding data tables. A separate Gray and Pastel Atlas contains 956 additional samples, for a total
of 2187 unique samples.
3
1. Scope Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
3
E 284 Terminology of Appearance
1.1 This practice provides a means for specifying the colors
E 308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by
of objects in terms of the Colorcurve system. Both computa-
3
Using the CIE System
tional and visual methods are included. This practice is
E 1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrophotometric Data for
applicable to inked, painted, dyed, or mass-colored surfaces
3
Object-Color Evaluation
viewed by an observer with normal color vision.
1.2 This practice includes a method for producing a color
3. Terminology
specimen to match a Colorcurve sample.
3.1 Definitions of appearance terms in Terminology E 284
1.3 This practice does not cover the preparation of speci-
are applicable to this practice.
mens. If specimen preparation is required in conjunction with
3.2 Definitions:
this practice, a mutually agreed upon procedure shall be
3.2.1 chromaticness, n—the attribute of visual sensation
established.
combining the hue and saturation.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2 hue, n—the attribute of color perception by means of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
which an object is judged to be red, yellow, green, blue, purple,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
or intermediate between some adjacent pair of these, consid-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ered in a closed ring (red and purple being an adjacent pair).
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2. Referenced Documents 3.3.1 Colorcurve atlas, n—physical exemplification of the
Colorcurve system, consisting of a three-dimensional array of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2187 samples displayed on CIELAB cartesian coordinates in
D 1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Color and Color
two atlases.
3.3.2 Colorcurve system, n—a color order system based on
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-12 on Color and
the CIE 1964 space, which uses the CIELAB L* lightness scale
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.07 on Color Order
( L* 5 L) and in which chromaticity is represented by
Systems US Tag ISO TC 187.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1998. Published March 1999. Originally opponent-color scales R/G (reds-greens) and Y/B (yellows-
published as E 1541 – 93. Last previous edition E 1541 – 94.
blues).
2
Colorcurvet is a registered U.S. trademark used by ASTM under the authori-
zation of Colorcurve Systems, Inc. Aspects of Colorcurve technology are covered by
U.S. Patent 5 012 482.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
1

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NOTICE:¬This¬standard¬has¬either¬been¬superceded¬and¬replaced¬by¬a¬new¬version¬or¬discontinued.¬
Contact¬ASTM¬International¬(www.astm.org)¬for¬the¬latest¬information.¬
E 1541
3.3.3 lattice scaling constant, n—ratio of the distance be- Notations—CIE 1964 tristimulus values for standard illumi-
tween adjacent samples at a system
...