Predictions of Munsell values with the same perceived lightness at any specified chroma irrespective of hues—Determination of any tonal colors

Simple formulas are proposed for predicting the Munsell value of colors with the same tone (the same values for whiteness‐blackness, perceived lightness, and chroma irrespective of hue). The formulas can be used for any tone. In other words, the method can determine the Munsell value with the same perceived lightness at any specified chroma irrespective of hue. The chromatic strength (CS) function is only used for the derivations. The formulas are very simple, and can be used not only in the colorimetry but also in the color design field. The concept described in this study is that a common CS function can be used for transforming each of the three color attributes (hue, lightness, and chroma) from their uniform color space metric to their corresponding color appearance space attribute. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011     

Relationships among chromatic tone,perceived lightness,and degree of vividness

The present study describes the usefulness and importance of chromatic tone concept on object colors. It is clarified that the concept of a tone category consists of the same perceived lightness and the same degree of vividness of chromatic object colors in the tone irrespective of hue. Prediction equations are given to color attributes on perceived lightness and degree of vividness. They clearly show different functions on metric lightness and metric chroma on the two color attributes. It is also clarified that the theoretical opponent‐colors system by the author (NT system) gives a basis for defining the tone concept, perceived lightness, and degree of vividness. The results of the present study are useful for understanding fundamental color notion “tone,” which is important both in the fields of colorimetry (fundamental color‐perception study) and color design (practical application). In addition, attributes of equivalent whiteness–blackness [W‐Bk]eq and equivalent chroma Ceq are proposed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 30, 221–234, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20108     

Color determinants of surface stratification

Although color plays a crucial role in the demarcation of surfaces in the visual field, its role in depth perception is not well understood. Certain special effects of color on depth perception that arise from optical factors such as chromatic aberration (chromostereopsis) have been studied, but less is known about the role of perceptual factors of color in determining depth relations. The present study explores the role that the different attributes of color such as hue, chroma, and lightness play in the stratification of surfaces in depth. In two experiments, subjects manipulated specific dimensions of colors (hue, chroma, lightness, and whiteness) while making judgments of coplanarity of either two or more abutting surfaces. The results demonstrate that for surfaces to appear coplanar, their lightness has to be proportional to the natural (intrinsic) lightness of the hues. No meaningful effects of chroma, whiteness, or blackness were found in depth stratification. The results suggest a primary role of the natural lightness of hues in depth perception.     

On attributes of achromatic and chromatic object‐color perceptions

Adapting luminance dependencies of various color attributes of object colors (lightness, brightness, whiteness‐blackness, whiteness‐blackness strength, chroma, and colorfulness) were clarified under white illumination with various adapting illuminances. The correlation between the perceptions of lightness and brightness and those of whiteness‐blackness and whiteness‐blackness strength is also clarified for achromatic object colors. The difference between the increase of brightness and that of whiteness‐blackness contrast (the effect studied by Stevens and Jameson—Hurvich) by raising their adapting illuminance is resolved without any contradiction. It is also shown that the nonlinear color‐appearance model developed by the author and his colleagues is able to explain the complex characteristics of all the above color attributes of object colors by making minor modifications to it. In addition, two kinds of classifications of various color attributes are given; one is based on the similarity of perception level, and the other on the degree of adapting illuminance dependency. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 25, 318–332, 2000     

Complexity of the color appearance of objects with nonuniform illumination

An inversion relationship is clarified between lightness and brightness, and also between chroma and colorfulness under nonuniform illumination with different illuminance levels (high and low) within the same visual field. Brightness (or colorfulness) of object color with low lightness (or chroma) under high illuminance level is perceived higher than that of another object color with high lightness (or chroma) under low illuminance level. Two color images are given for showing the inversion phenomena on brightness–lightness and colorfulness–chroma between object colors under different illuminance levels. These color images are useful for making researchers on color understand the differences in concept between brightness and lightness, and also between colorfulness and chroma. In particular, the concept of colorfulness is important, but difficult to understand. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 372–377, 2007     

Proposal of an opponent‐colors system based on color‐appearance and color‐vision studies

A new theoretical color order system is proposed on the basis of various studies on color appearance and color vision. It has three orthogonal opponent‐colors axes and an improved chromatic strength of each hue. The system has color attributes whiteness w, blackness bk, grayness gr, chroma C, and hue H. A method is given for determining Munsell notations of any colors on any equi‐hue planes in the system. A method is also given for determining grayness regions and grayness values on hue‐chroma planes in the system. It is concluded that colors with the same color attributes [w, gr, bk, C] but with different hues in the theoretical space have approximately the same perceived lightness, the same degree of vividness (“azayakasa” in Japanese), and also the same color tone. The tone concept, for example used in the Practical Color Coordinate System (PCCS), is clarified perceptually. The proposed system is a basic and latent color‐order system to PCCS. In addition, the concept of veiling grayness by a pure color with any hue is introduced. Further, relationships are clarified between generalized chroma c(gen) and grayness. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 29, 135–150, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10234     

Distance metrics for very large color differences

Small, supra-threshold color differences are typically described with Euclidean distance metrics, or dimension-weighted Euclidean metrics, in color appearance spaces such as CIELAB. This research examines the perception and modeling of very large color differences in the order of 10 CIELAB units or larger, with an aim of describing the salience of color differences between distinct objects in real-world scenes and images. A psychophysical experiment was completed to compare directly large color-difference pairs designed to probe various Euclidean and non-Euclidean distance metrics. The results indicate that very large color differences are best described by HyAB, a combination of a Euclidean metric in hue and chroma with a city-block metric to incorporate lightness differences.     

Whiteness,chromaticness, and blackness symmetries for CIELAB,with a numerical example

Whiteness, chromaticness, and blackness are defined for CIELAB. These NCS‐like color attributes offer an alternative to lightness and chroma for describing color. Their hue‐preserving symmetries are derived for tristimulus color space. A numerical example provides what theory predicts are visually uniform sequences of colors with constant lightness, whiteness, chromaticness, or blackness. Numerical approximation is unnecessary. Such sets of symmetric colors in one hue are visually interesting, and useful for computer aided design. The appropriateness of such attributes for CIELAB is briefly discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2010     

Adequateness of a newly modified opponent‐colors theory

Two features of a newly modified opponent‐colors theory are examined for correctness: (1) The perceived chroma of pure color is different for different hues. This was confirmed by using Ikeda's UCS (Uniform Color Scales) formula and also by the maximum Munsell Chroma Values for different hues. (2) Chromatic colors with the same values of whiteness, blackness, grayness, and perceived chroma have the same perceived lightness and chromatic tone regardless of hue. This was confirmed by a theoretical analysis and observations of the color samples in the Practical Color Co‐ordinate System (PCCS) developed in Japan. Chromatic tone, a complex concept of object colors, is clarified. The structure of the newly modified theory and its corresponding color space were confirmed by observation of object colors. Furthermore, it was found effective for developing a color‐order system and its corresponding standard color charts to the modified theory. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 28, 298–307, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10164     

New colour appearance scales for describing saturation,vividness, blackness,and whiteness

This article describes the development of new models for predicting four colour appearance attributes: saturation, vividness, blackness, and whiteness. The new models were developed on the basis of experimental data accumulated in the authors' previous study, in which the four colour appearance attributes were scaled by 64 Korean and 68 British observers using the categorical judgment method. Two types of models were developed: the ellipsoid‐based and the hue‐based. For the former, the perceived saturation, vividness, blackness, and whiteness were modeled in the form of colour‐difference formulae between the test colour and a reference colour. For the latter, blackness, whiteness, and chromaticness scales were modeled by estimating hue‐dependent lightness and chroma values for the “full colour” in the framework of Adams' equation. The new models were tested using NCS data and were found to outperform some of the existing colour appearance models.     

Computational color combination analysis of Papilionidae butterflies as aesthetic objects

In this study, our aim is to clarify the color combination rules of the human-preferred Papilionidae butterflies as aesthetic objects. A set of 118 butterfly images, including color polyphenism from the 47 Papilionidae species that are generally preferred by humans, was selected. These images were classified using hierarchical cluster analysis based on similarities of lightness, chroma, and hue attributes in CIELAB space, determined using histogram intersection. Then, the color distributions and combinations in each cluster were analyzed using a Gaussian mixture model and the color combination types defined in the present study. Accordingly, we obtained the following main color combination rules of human-preferred Papilionidae: (a) dominant low lightness and contrasting lightness components, (b) dominant low chroma and similar chroma components, and (c) dominant orange to yellow-green hue and similar hue components. These rules partly agree with the robust harmony principles found in previous research. We infer that the cognitive effects concerning the processing fluency through these color combination rules influence human aesthetic responses.     

Long‐term changes in Japanese women's facial skin color

It has been suggested that skin color changes not only with advancing age but also with the times. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in Japanese women's facial skin color over 25 years, as well as the changes in skin pigmentation that affect skin color. First, skin color changes in terms of Munsell color values were investigated. A total of 3181 Japanese women residing in the greater Tokyo area were enrolled, and datasets were collected using spectrophotometers, designated as the 1991, 2001, 2005, and 2015 data. The mean Munsell hue, value, and chroma were calculated for each measurement year. Next, the concentrations of melanin and hemoglobin were calculated from spectral data, to investigate changes in skin pigmentations. Finally, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to verify that the suggested changes in skin pigmentations brought about skin color changes. As a result, skin color significantly changed toward high lightness, low saturation, and high yellowness from the 1991 data to the 2001 data. From the 2005 to 2015 data, the skin color distribution shifted toward lower saturation and increased redness. In addition, the concentration of hemoglobin decreased significantly from the 1991 data to the 2001 data, while the melanin concentration decreased significantly from the 2005 data to the 2015 data.     

Color tolerance prediction for recycled paper based on consumers' awareness

Consumers' tolerance of the color of recycled paper was evaluated by the visual assessment of such paper by 30 Japanese university students. The assessment was performed to measure color tolerance using 266 color samples in eight conditions specifying the situation of paper as (1) “either paper is recycled or not recycled,” (2) “whether you will buy/use,” and (3) “use for office paper or for workbook paper.” The responses of the subjects were sorted out quantitatively in terms of the colorimetric values of color samples and then correlated with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) brightness and CIE whiteness. Both the ISO brightness and CIE whiteness were found to be dependent on hue factors and also to be restricted for use in direct representation of the consumers' responses to paper quality. Since the consumers' evaluation of paper quality is due to visual whiteness, we propose a new equation to predict the consumers' tolerance of paper color, in which the equation contains two factors concerning the color distance from the white point and the hue impact. The new tolerance equation was confirmed to predict the consumers' tolerance successfully, particularly when the consumers are aware that the paper is recycled. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011     

Equivalent lightness of colored objects of equal munsell chroma and of equal munsell value at various illuminances

Equivalent lightness was determined for 26 colored surfaces by heterochromatic brightness matching with a grey scale. The illuminance for observation was varied from 0.01 to 1000 lx to cover scotopic, mesopic, and photopic vision, and the equivalent lightness-versus-log illuminance curve was obtained for every stimulus. The shape of the curves did not change if the surfaces had the same Munsell hue and chroma. It differed significantly if they had different hues or different chroma. The curves were interpreted in terms of achromatic lightness and chromatic lightness, which are both subject to change with illuminance level. The achromatic lightness was assumed to follow the Purkinje shift and the chromatic lightness monotonically increased with illuminance. The chromatic lightness was larger for larger Munsell chroma within a single hue.     

Proposal of a new concept for color‐appearance modeling

A new type of color‐appearance model (CAM) is proposed together with its concept and flow of formulations. The topics described are: (1) The existence of two kinds of color‐appearance models, CAMs previously used and CAMs newly proposed. (2) All the CAMs, previously developed and used, do not predict color‐appearance attribute of perceived lightness of object colors under any illuminations. They may be adequately called “the model for predicting color‐appearance match between object colors under different adapting conditions.” (3) Newly improved CAMs take the Helmholtz–Kohlrausch effect in the VCC method into account. They can determine object colors with the same Tone (equi‐perceived lightness, equi‐whiteness‐blackness, and equi‐perceived chroma) irrespective of hues under reference illuminant. The newly improved models can be named Integrated CAMs. Their applicable fields are described in detail. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 113–120, 2007     

Effect of orange peel attribute of automotive finishes on their blackness perception

In this paper, the perceived blackness of 10 specific automotive finishes with different levels of orange peel attribute is investigated under the diffuse illumination condition. Since the purchased ACT black panels had approximately the same colorimetric attributes, i.e., lightness, hue, and chroma, the effect of colorimetric properties on perceived blackness was minimized. Thirty nonexpert observers including 14 males and 16 females were selected to compare the blackness perception of ACT black panels. The observers’ normal color vision was already evaluated by applying the Ishihara test method. The black panels were ranked from the minimum perceived blackness to the maximum by employing the pair comparison method and performing 1800 visual assessments. Results showed that, in general, the blackness perception of panels increased with a decrease in their orange peel attributes, but the orange peel attribute is not the only factor affecting the perceived blackness of black panels. Besides, while the black panels were colorimetrically too close to each other, the panel with the lowest lightness and chroma value was assessed as the blackest sample among the ACT panels with the lowest orange peel attribute.     

Color space and its divisions

A synthesis of the author's recent work on color‐order systems and color‐difference evaluation is provided in context of current knowledge and practices. The development of a colorimetric model is demonstrated using Munsell “Celtic crosses” as a model of perceptual space. Issues surrounding color‐matching functions, unique hues, the Helmholtz–Kohlrausch effect, and lightness and chroma crispening are addressed, as is the difficulty of reconciling a difference‐based hue, chroma, lightness model with an Euclidean model. A new lightness scale and treatment of lightness crispening is proposed. The results indicate that, despite problems, relatively simple modified opponent‐color models provide good accuracy in predicting color‐order system and supra‐threshold small color‐difference data. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 26, 209–222, 2001     

Skin‐color correction method based on hue template mapping for wide color gamut liquid crystal display devices

The development of wide color gamut (WCG) liquid crystal display (LCD) plays an important role in the high‐quality television (TV) field. Nowadays, people want their TV or display devices to have the capability of showing vivid colors while keeping skin colors as natural as they remember. Therefore, it is necessary to develop color‐correction technologies for WCG LCD system. A new color‐correction method named “natural skin‐color mapping algorithm” (NSCMA) for WCG LCD is proposed in this study. It can solve the skin‐color contour problem in color‐corrected images with simple skin‐color detection. Its development is based on the concepts of performing color mapping between source hue colors and target hue colors on each hue page. The polynomial regression is also applied to calculate the color mapping conversion matrices. Two color mapping factors called template‐size factor and tone‐compression factor are designed in NSCMA. The template‐size factor is used to adjust target template sizes adequately. The tone‐compression factor is designed to control the degrees of image enhancement. For facial skin‐color pictures, the appropriate settings of template‐size factor and tone‐compression factor will get suitable color image rendering on the WCG LCD. It is demonstrated that the WCG LCD can be corrected to show vivid color pictures and keep facial skin colors as natural as possible when the proposed NSCMA is performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011     

A fallacy in the definition of ΔH*

When a color differs from the reference, it is desirable to ascribe the difference to differences in the perceptual attributes of hue, chroma, and/or lightness through psychometric correlates of these attributes. To this end, the CIE has recommended the quantity ΔH* as a psychometric correlate of hue as defined by ΔH* = [(ΔE*)² - (ΔL*)² - (ΔC*)²]^1/2, where the correlates correspond to either the 1976 CIELAB or CIELUV color spaces. Since ΔH* is defined as a “leftover,” this definition is valid only to the extent that ΔE* comprises exclusively ΔL*, ΔC*, and ΔH* and that ΔL*, ΔC*, and ΔH* are mutually independent compositionally, both psychophysically and psychometrically. It will be shown that as now defined ΔH* lacks psychometric independence of chroma and always leads to incorrect hue difference determination. Such a deficiency causes problems, especially in the halftone color printing industry, since it can suggest an incorrect adjustment for the hue of the inks. A revised definition herein of ΔH* provides a psychometric hue difference independent of chroma, valid for large and small psychometric color differences regardless of chroma. However, for small chromas, the seldom used metric ΔC might be a better color difference metric than ΔH* because complex appearance effects make the perceptual discrimination of lightness, chroma, and hue components more difficult than for high chromas.