ASTM D1729-96(2009)

Standard Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Although color measuring instruments are widely used, color matches are usually checked visually. The standardization of visual examination has greatly improved the uniformity of products and the accuracy of color matches.
The use of this practice is essential for critical color matching but is also recommended for any color appraisal, such as the choice or approval of a color. This practice is widely used in industry to choose colors, exhibit colors reproducibly, inspect incoming materials, monitor color producing processes, and inspect finished goods. Visual appraisal is particularly important when the product inspected is not of the same material as the color standard to which it is compared.
Observers—This practice is based on the fundamental assumption that the observer has normal color vision and is trained and experienced in observing and classifying color differences. The significance of the results depends on that being so. The selection, evaluation, and training of observers are treated in Guide E1499.
Illumination—Simulated average daylight is recommended by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), but a slightly bluer simulated north-sky daylight came into widespread use in North America, because it provides a slightly greater distinction between very pale yellow and white, a distinction of great commercial importance.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice specifies the equipment and procedures for visual appraisal of the colors and color differences of opaque materials that are diffusely illuminated. These specification are of critical importance in color matching. This practice requires judgments by observers with normal color vision.
1.2 Critical visual appraisal of colors and color differences of materials such as metallic and pearlescent paints requires illumination that is nearly a geometric simulation of sunlight, because such directional illumination permits observation of the glitter and goniochromatism that characterize such materials. Such viewing conditions are beyond the scope of this practice.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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: 30-Nov-2009
• ICS: 17.180.20 - Colours and measurement of light
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.11 - Visual Methods

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D1729-96(2003) - Standard Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D5146-10(2019) - Standard Guide to Testing Solvent-Borne Architectural Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D5531-17(2023) - Standard Guide for Preparation, Maintenance, and Distribution of Physical Product Standards for Color and Geometric Appearance of Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C1501-23 - Standard Test Method for Color Stability of Building Construction Sealants as Determined by Laboratory Accelerated Weathering Procedures
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D5031/D5031M-13(2018) - Standard Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposure Tests of Paint and Related Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D2616-19 - Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Visual Color Difference With a Gray Scale
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D7489-09(2017) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Touch-Up Properties of Architectural Coatings under Various Environmental Conditions
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D6695-16 - Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D2205-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Tests for Traffic Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D822/D822M-13(2018) - Standard Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F29-97(2022) - Standard Specification for Dumet Wire for Glass-to-Metal Seal Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D4459-21 - Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Indoor Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM C1364-23 - Standard Specification for Architectural Cast Stone
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D3730-17(2022) - Standard Guide for Testing High-Performance Interior Architectural Wall Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D2244-23 - Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009

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: D1729 − 96(Reapproved 2009)
Standard Practice for
Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of
1
Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1729; 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
Thecolorsofmaterialsdependonthegeometricandspectralnatureoftheilluminatingandviewing
conditions. This practice specifies standard conditions for appraising the colors and color differences
of opaque specimens that are diffusely illuminated. Daylight, the natural illuminant, is usually of
primary interest, but natural daylight is highly variable and is not available at night or in interior
rooms, so simulated daylight is generally used. Colors may match under a light source with one
spectral power distribution, but not under another, so the match is usually confirmed under another
very different source. An incandescent lamp of low correlated color temperature has long been used
to detect mismatches likely to appear under yellower phases of daylight or incandescent light.
Industrial color matchers often verify the match with the kind of light likely to be found where the
productissoldorused.Judgmentsmustbemadebyobserverswithnormalcolorvision.Evenso,there
may be substantial individual differences in judgments.
1. Scope 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This practice specifies the equipment and procedures for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
visual appraisal of the colors and color differences of opaque
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
materials that are diffusely illuminated. These specification are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of critical importance in color matching. This practice requires
judgments by observers with normal color vision.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Critical visual appraisal of colors and color differences
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of materials such as metallic and pearlescent paints requires
D523 Test Method for Specular Gloss
illumination that is nearly a geometric simulation of sunlight,
D1535 Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
because such directional illumination permits observation of
the glitter and goniochromatism that characterize such materi- D4086 Practice for Visual Evaluation of Metamerism
D5531 GuideforPreparation,Maintenance,andDistribution
als. Such viewing conditions are beyond the scope of this
practice. of Physical Product Standards for Color and Geometric
Appearance of Coatings
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
E284 Terminology of Appearance
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
E308 PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
only.
the CIE System
E1164 PracticeforObtainingSpectrometricDataforObject-
Color Evaluation
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and
E1499 Guide for Selection, Evaluation, and Training of
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.11 on Visual
Observers
Methods.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally
approved in 1960. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D1729 – 96 (2003).
DOI: 10.1520/D1729–96R09.
2
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Defense to replace Method 4249.1 of Federal Test Method Standard No 141. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Consult the DoD Index of Specifications and Standards for the specific year of issue Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
which has been adopted by the Department of Defense. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D1729 − 96 (2009)
3
2.2 ISO/CIE Standard: 6.1.1.1 Daylight illumination shall be a spectral simulation
10526 CIE Standard Colorimetric Illuminants (1991) of daylight of one or more of the following three kinds:
overcast northern sky light, designated CIE Illuminant D ;
75
3. Terminology
average daylight, designated CIE Illuminant D ; or, for
65
applications involving color photography or color printing,
3.1 Fordefinitionsofappearancetermsusedinthispractice,
CIE Illuminant D . The spec
...

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:D1729–96(Reapproved2003) Designation:D1729–96(Reapproved2009)
Standard Practice for
Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of
1
Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1729; 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.
INTRODUCTION
The colors of materials depend on the geometric and spectral nature of the illuminating and viewing
conditions. This practice specifies standard conditions for appraising the colors and color differences
of opaque specimens that are diffusely illuminated. Daylight, the natural illuminant, is usually of
primary interest, but natural daylight is highly variable and is not available at night or in interior
rooms, so simulated daylight is generally used. Colors may match under a light source with one
spectral power distribution, but not under another, so the match is usually confirmed under another
very different source. An incandescent lamp of low correlated color temperature has long been used
to detect mismatches likely to appear under yellower phases of daylight or incandescent light.
Industrial color matchers often verify the match with the kind of light likely to be found where the
productissoldorused.Judgmentsmustbemadebyobserverswithnormalcolorvision.Evenso,there
may be substantial individual differences in judgments.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice specifies the equipment and procedures for visual appraisal of the colors and color differences of opaque
materials that are diffusely illuminated. These specification are of critical importance in color matching. This practice requires
judgments by observers with normal color vision.
1.2 Critical visual appraisal of colors and color differences of materials such as metallic and pearlescent paints requires
illumination that is nearly a geometric simulation of sunlight, because such directional illumination permits observation of the
glitter and goniochromatism that characterize such materials. Such viewing conditions are beyond the scope of this practice.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D523 Test Method for Specular Gloss
D1535 Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
D4086 Practice for Visual Evaluation of Metamerism
D5531 Guide for Preparation, Maintenance, and Distribution of Physical Product Standards for Color and Geometric
Appearance of Coatings
E284 Terminology of Appearance
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
E1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for Object-Color Evaluation
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.11 on Visual Methods.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003.2009. Published December 2003.2009. Originally approved in 1960. Last previous edition approved in 19962003 as
D1729 – 96 (2003). DOI: 10.1520/D1729-–96R039.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense to replace Method 4249.1 of Federal Test Method Standard No 141. Consult the DoD
Index of Specifications and Standards for the specific year of issue which has been adopted by the Department of Defense.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnualBookofASTMStandards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D1729–96 (2009)
E1499 Guide for Selection, Evaluation, and Training of Observers
3
2.2 ISO/CIE Standard:
CIE 1052610526 CIE Standard Colorimetric Illuminants (1991)
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of appearance
...