ASTM D1535-08
(Practice)Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice is used by artists, designers, scientists, engineers, and government regulators, to specify an existing or desired color. It is used in the natural sciences to record the colors of specimens, or identify specimens, such as human complexion, flowers, foliage, soils, and minerals. It is used to specify colors for commerce and for control of color-production processes, when instrumental color measurement is not economical. The Munsell system is widely used for color tolerancing, even when instrumentation is employed (see Practice D 3134). It is common practice to have color chips made to illustrate an aim color and the just tolerable deviations from that color in hue, value, and chroma, such a set of chips being called a Color Tolerance Set. A color tolerance set exhibits the aim color and color tolerances so that everyone involved in the selection, production, and acceptance of the color can directly perceive the intent of the specification, before bidding to supply the color or starting production. A color tolerance set may be measured to establish instrumental tolerances. Without extensive experience, it may be impossible to visualize the meaning of numbers resulting from color measurement, but by this practice, the numbers can be translated to the Munsell color-order system, which is exemplified by colored chips for visual examination. This color-order system is the basis of the ISCC-NBS Method of Designating Colors and a Dictionary of Color Names, as well as the Universal Color Language, which associates color names, in the English language, with Munsell notations (3).
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides a means of specifying the colors of objects in terms of the Munsell color order system, a system based on the color-perception attributes hue, lightness, and chroma. The practice is limited to opaque objects, such as painted surfaces viewed in daylight by an observer having normal color vision. This practice provides a simple visual method as an alternative to the more precise and more complex method based on spectrophotometry and the CIE system (see Practices E 308 and E 1164). Provision is made for conversion of CIE data to Munsell notation.
1.2 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.
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Designation: D1535 – 08
Standard Practice for
1
Specifying Color by the Munsell System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1535; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope comparing the specimen to the chips in the Munsell Book of
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Color; (2) a notation in the Munsell color system, derived
1.1 This practice provides a means of specifying the colors
from luminous reflectance factor Y and chromaticity coordi-
of objects in terms of the Munsell color order system, a system
nates x and y, in the CIE system for standard illuminant C,by
based on the color-perception attributes hue, lightness, and
the use of scales defined by the Optical Society of America
chroma. The practice is limited to opaque objects, such as
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Subcommittee on the Spacing of the Munsell Colors (1).
painted surfaces viewed in daylight by an observer having
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The Munsell notation is written as a
normal color vision. This practice provides a simple visual
combination of letters and numbers by which the color of an
methodasanalternativetothemorepreciseandmorecomplex
opaque object may be specified with respect to Munsell hue H,
method based on spectrophotometry and the CIE system (see
Munsell value V, and Munsell chroma C, written in the form H
Practices E308 and E1164). Provision is made for conversion
V/C.
of CIE data to Munsell notation.
3.2.2 hue, n—the attribute of color perception by means of
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
which a color is judged to be red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
purple, or intermediate between adjacent pairs of these, con-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sidered in a closed ring (red and purple being an adjacent pair).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.3 Munsell hue, n—an attribute of color used in the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Munsell color system to indicate the hue of a specimen viewed
2. Referenced Documents in daylight.
2
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Two systems of designating Munsell
2.1 ASTM Standards:
hue are shown in Fig. 1, a letter-number system and an
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color
all-number system. The two systems are equivalent, but the
Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
letter-number system is preferred, because it requires no prior
D3134 PracticeforEstablishingColorandGlossTolerances
knowledge or memory of the correspondence of numbers to
E284 Terminology of Appearance
hues. The hue circle is graduated in steps judged visually to be
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by
approximately equal.
Using the CIE System
3.2.4 lightness, n—the attribute of color perception by
E1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for
which a non-self-luminous body is judged to reflect more or
Object-Color Evaluation
less light.
3. Terminology
3.2.5 Munsell value, n—an attribute of color used in the
Munsell color system to indicate the lightness of a specimen
3.1 Terms and definitions in Terminology E284 are appli-
viewed in daylight, on a scale extending from 0 for ideal black
cable to this practice.
to 10 for ideal white, in steps that are visually approximately
3.2 Definitions:
equal in magnitude.
3.2.1 Munsell notation, n—(1) the Munsell hue, value, and
3.2.5.1 Discussion—Achromatic or neutral colors are des-
chroma assigned to the color of a specimen by visually
ignated N followed by the value notation, thus: N 5.61/.
3.2.6 chroma, n—the attribute of color used to indicate the
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and
degree of departure of the color from a neutral color of the
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.07 on Color Order
same lightness.
Systems.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2008. Published January 2008. Originally
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D1535 – 07. DOI:
10.1520/D1535-08.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from GretagMacbeth, 617 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, NY
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM 12553-6148.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C70
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D1535–07 Designation: D 1535 – 08
Standard Practice for
1
Specifying Color by the Munsell System
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1535; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 ThispracticeprovidesameansofspecifyingthecolorsofobjectsintermsoftheMunsellcolorordersystem,asystembased
on the color-perception attributes hue, lightness, and chroma. The practice is limited to opaque objects, such as painted surfaces
viewed in daylight by an observer having normal color vision. This practice provides a simple visual method as an alternative to
the more precise and more complex method based on spectrophotometry and the CIE system (see Practices E 308 and E 1164).
Provision is made for conversion of CIE data to Munsell notation.
1.2 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
D 3134 Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances
E 284 Terminology of Appearance
E 308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
E 1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for Object-Color Evaluation
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms and definitions in Terminology E 284 are applicable to this practice.
3.2 Definitions:
3.2.1 Munsell notation, n—( 1) the Munsell hue, value, and chroma assigned to the color of a specimen by visually comparing
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the specimen to the chips in the Munsell Book of Color; (2) a notation in the Munsell color system, derived from luminous
reflectance factor Y and chromaticity coordinates x and y, in the CIE system for standard illuminant C, by the use of scales defined
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by the Optical Society of America Subcommittee on the Spacing of the Munsell Colors (1).
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The Munsell notation is written as a combination of letters and numbers by which the color of an opaque
object may be specified with respect to Munsell hue H, Munsell value V, and Munsell chroma C, written in the form H V/C.
3.2.2 hue,n—theattributeofcolorperceptionbymeansofwhichacolorisjudgedtobered,orange,yellow,green,blue,purple,
or intermediate between adjacent pairs of these, considered in a closed ring (red and purple being an adjacent pair).
3.2.3 Munsell hue, n—an attribute of color used in the Munsell color system to indicate the hue of a specimen viewed in
daylight.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Two systems of designating Munsell hue are shown in Fig. 1, a letter-number system and an all-number
system. The two systems are equivalent, but the letter-number system is preferred, because it requires no prior knowledge or
memory of the correspondence of numbers to hues.The hue circle is graduated in steps judged visually to be approximately equal.
3.2.4 lightness, n—the attribute of color perception by which a non-self-luminous body is judged to reflect more or less light.
3.2.5 Munsell value, n—an attribute of color used in the Munsell color system to indicate the lightness of a specimen viewed
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.07 on Color Order
Systems.
Current edition approved JulyJan. 1, 2007.2008. Published July 2007.January 2008. Originally approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 20062007 as
D 1535 – 067.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book ofASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from GretagMacbeth, 617 Little Britain Road, New Windsor, NY 12553-6148.
4
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D1535–08
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