Cie Color Difference Calculator

CIE Lab Color Difference Formula:

\[ \Delta E = \sqrt{(L_2 - L_1)^2 + (a_2 - a_1)^2 + (b_2 - b_1)^2} \]

L1 (Lightness):

a1 (Green-Red):

b1 (Blue-Yellow):

L2 (Lightness):

a2 (Green-Red):

b2 (Blue-Yellow):

Color Difference (ΔE):

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1. What is CIE Color Difference?

The CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage) color difference formula calculates the perceptual difference between two colors in the CIE Lab color space. The ΔE value represents how different two colors appear to the human eye.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the CIE Lab color difference formula:

\[ \Delta E = \sqrt{(L_2 - L_1)^2 + (a_2 - a_1)^2 + (b_2 - b_1)^2} \]

Where:

\( L_1, L_2 \) — Lightness values (0-100)
\( a_1, a_2 \) — Green-Red coordinates (-128 to +127)
\( b_1, b_2 \) — Blue-Yellow coordinates (-128 to +127)

Explanation: The formula calculates the Euclidean distance between two points in the three-dimensional CIE Lab color space, providing a single numerical value representing the color difference.

3. Importance of Color Difference Calculation

Details: Color difference calculation is crucial in industries such as printing, textiles, manufacturing, and digital design to ensure color consistency and quality control across different materials and devices.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the CIE Lab values for both colors. L values range from 0 (black) to 100 (white). a values range from green (negative) to red (positive). b values range from blue (negative) to yellow (positive).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does the ΔE value represent?
A: ΔE represents the perceived color difference. A ΔE of 1.0 is considered a just noticeable difference under optimal viewing conditions.

Q2: What are typical ΔE values in industry?
A: Typically, ΔE < 2.0 is considered excellent match, 2.0-5.0 is acceptable for most applications, and >5.0 is noticeable difference.

Q3: Are there other color difference formulas?
A: Yes, there are several formulas including CIE94, CIE2000, and CMC, which provide more accurate results for specific applications.

Q4: What are the limitations of this formula?
A: The simple Euclidean distance doesn't account for the non-uniformity of human color perception across the color space, which is addressed in more advanced formulas.

Q5: How is this used in quality control?
A: Manufacturers use ΔE measurements to ensure color consistency between batches, monitor production processes, and verify color matching against standards.