ASTM D3134-15

Standard Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Color specifications are centered around exact positions in color space. Correspondingly, gloss specifications are centered around an exact position on the gloss scale. Because it is difficult to achieve these exact positions repeatedly, it is necessary to specify tolerances that are acceptable to both the buyer and the seller. This practice details the procedure for accomplishing this goal.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes a procedure for establishing tolerances and evaluating the color and gloss of specimens with respect to specified standards. This practice is appropriate for nonfluorescent opaque specimens.  
1.2 This practice does not indicate the extent of tolerances, but gives guidance on how they can be set. For product specification, the tolerances between specimens and the specified standard should be agreed upon between the purchaser and the seller.  
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 limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2014
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• Technical Committee: E12 - Color and Appearance
• Drafting Committee: E12.11 - Visual Methods

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3134-97(2008)e1 - Standard Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM D3134-15(2019) - Standard Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D1535-14(2023) - Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1499-16(2023) - Standard Guide for Selection, Evaluation, and Training of Observers
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D7195-21 - Standard Guide for Setting Object Color Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1808-96(2021) - Standard Guide for Designing and Conducting Visual Experiments
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D5382-02(2017) - Standard Guide to Evaluation of Optical Properties of Powder Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM E1345-98(2019) - Standard Practice for Reducing the Effect of Variability of Color Measurement by Use of Multiple Measurements
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D3451-06(2017) - Standard Guide for Testing Coating Powders and Powder Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D3794-22 - Standard Guide for Testing Coil Coatings
• 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 C647-19 - Standard Guide to Properties and Tests of Mastics and Coating Finishes for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2015
• 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-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: D3134 − 15
Standard Practice for
1
Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3134; 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.
INTRODUCTION
Permissible color and gloss deviations from a standard are generally dependent upon the color
discrimination of the observer, on the lighting and surround in which the material is viewed, and on
special considerations related to the design, manufacture, and practical usage of the colored material
or object. The tolerances, therefore, may be influenced by economic, technical, psychological, and
practical requirements. In many circumstances, acceptability of color and gloss deviations from a
standard may differ appreciably from perceptibility for many reasons. With proper allowances,
perceptibility data can be used as an aid to develop permissible tolerances. Finally, these consider-
ations should result in a specification acceptable to both buyer and seller.
1. Scope D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color
Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
1.1 This practice describes a procedure for establishing
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and
tolerancesandevaluatingthecolorandglossofspecimenswith
Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color
respect to specified standards. This practice is appropriate for
Coordinates
nonfluorescent opaque specimens.
D3964 Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for
1.2 This practice does not indicate the extent of tolerances,
Appearance Measurements
but gives guidance on how they can be set. For product
D4449 Test Method for Visual Evaluation of Gloss Differ-
specification, the tolerances between specimens and the speci-
ences Between Surfaces of Similar Appearance
fiedstandardshouldbeagreeduponbetweenthepurchaserand
D5531 GuideforPreparation,Maintenance,andDistribution
the seller.
of Physical Product Standards for Color and Geometric
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Appearance of Coatings
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the E284 Terminology of Appearance
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
E308 PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- the CIE System
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
E312 Practice for Description and Selection of Conditions
for Photographing Specimens Using Analog (Film) Cam-
2. Referenced Documents
eras and Digital Still Cameras (DSC)
2
E805 Practice for Identification of Instrumental Methods of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Color or Color-Difference Measurement of Materials
D523 Test Method for Specular Gloss
E1164 PracticeforObtainingSpectrometricDataforObject-
D1535 Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
Color Evaluation
E1331 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Spectrophotometry Using Hemispherical Geometry
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.11 on Visual
E1345 Practice for Reducing the Effect of Variability of
Methods.
Color Measurement by Use of Multiple Measurements
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015. Published February 2015. Originally
ε1
E1349 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by
approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D3134 – 97 (2008) .
DOI: 10.1520/D3134-15.
Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45°:0° or 0°:45°)
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Geometry
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
E1360 Practice for Specifying Color by Using the Optical
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. Society of America Uniform Color Scales System
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D3134 − 15
E1499 Guide for Selection, Evaluation, and Training of accomplished by use of the same colorant composition, incor-
Observers porated in the same manner into the same material. The
E1541 Practice for Specifying and Matching Color Using standard should have the same texture as the manufactured
3
the Colorcurve System (Withdrawn 2007) product.
2.2 CIE Publication:
7.1.1.1 In order to obtain a permanent record, use Practice
4
CIE Publication 015 Colorimetry
E805 and either Test Method E1331 or Test Method E1349 to
2.3 ISO Standard:
correctly
...

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.
´1
Designation: D3134 − 97 (Reapproved 2008) D3134 − 15
Standard Practice for
1
Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3134; 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.
1
ε NOTE—Corrections were made editorially in Footnote 4, 7.2.1, and Section 12 in December 2008.
INTRODUCTION
Permissible color and gloss deviations from a standard are generally dependent upon the color
discrimination of the observer, on the lighting and surround in which the material is viewed, and on
special considerations related to the design, manufacture, and practical usage of the colored material
or object. The tolerances, therefore, may be influenced by economic, technical, psychological, and
practical requirements. In many circumstances, acceptability of color and gloss deviations from a
standard may differ appreciably from the perceptibility of deviations such as on-tone fading
preferences, large tolerances for luminance variation, nongreen bias, or nonyellow bias. perceptibility
for many reasons. With proper allowances, perceptibility data can be used as an aid to develop
permissible tolerances. Finally, the sum of all these considerations should result in a specification
acceptable to both buyer and seller.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice describes a procedure for establishing tolerances and evaluating the color and gloss of specimens with respect
to specified standards. This practice is appropriate for nonfluorescent opaque specimens.
1.2 This practice does not indicate the extent of tolerances, but gives guidance on how they can be set. For product specification,
the tolerances between specimens and the specified standard should be agreed upon between the purchaser and the seller.
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
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
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
D3964 Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for Appearance Measurements
D4449 Test Method for Visual Evaluation of Gloss Differences Between Surfaces of Similar Appearance
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
E312 Practice for Description and Selection of Conditions for Photographing Specimens Using Analog (Film) Cameras and
Digital Still Cameras (DSC)
E805 Practice for Identification of Instrumental Methods of Color or Color-Difference Measurement of Materials
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, 2008Jan. 1, 2015. Published December 2008February 2015. Originally approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 20032008
ε1
as D3134 – 97 (2003).(2008) . DOI: 10.1520/D3134-97R08E01.10.1520/D3134-15.
2
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’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 ----------------------
D3134 − 15
E1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for Object-Color Evaluation
E1331 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Hemispherical Geometry
E1345 Practice for Reducing the Effect of Variability of Color Measurement by Use of Multiple Measurements
E1349 Test Method for Reflectance Factor and Color by Spectrophotometry Using Bidirectional (45°:0° or 0°:45°) Geomet
...