Color Glossary

- A neutral color (white, gray or black) that has no hue.

- Mixing of the three primary color lights (red, green and blue) to obtain colors. For example, combining green and red creates yellow, red and blue creates magenta, and blue and green create cyan.

- The light surrounding an environment or subject and comes from all directions. Also called available light or existing light.

- Distinguishing characteristic of a sensation, perception or mode of appearance.

- The color that is produced when an object absorbs all wavelengths from the light source.

- Definition of a color in an image that the scanner should interpret as black. All colors in the scanned image that are darker than the black point are also set to black. Colors lighter than the black point are adapted as needed. Black point is set, along with white point to achieve optimal highlight and shadow reproduction.

- Both the saturation and lightness of product color.

- The process of adjusting the basic setting of a device (e.g. monitor) or for processes (e.g. offset printing) to certain values in order to ensure uniform and consistent results over time. It builds the foundation to achieve stable ICC profile conditions and must be performed before creating a profile.

- Defines how the raw image is rendered by image processing software. Profiles contain a definition of exactly what the color of a particular pixel should be, relative to the raw data in the original image. You can adjust how your editing software interprets the color from your camera by using the controls in the Camera Calibration panel and saving the changes as a preset.

- Attribute of color used in the Munsell color system to indicate the degree of departure from a gray of the same value. Correlates with the dimension of saturation.

- In practical terms, a two dimensional graph on which a color may be plotted according to its hue and chroma. The third dimension of this graph is the luminance factor, or lightness, which is independent of hue or chroma. The location of a point on this graph indicates roughly what color it is (red, green, blue, purple, etc) and how saturated it is. A plot of all colors has a characteristic horseshoe shape.

- The abbreviation for the French title of the International Commission on Illumination, Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage. The Commission is devoted to standardization in illumination and related areas that include color. The CIE developed mathematical modes to quantify light sources, objects and observers as a function of wavelength. In 1931, the CIE defined a basic concept for the description of color on the basis of the CIE standard colorimetric observer. One common result was the development of the Chromaticity Diagram, a basic color space for plotting colors.

- The abbreviation for the French title of the International Commission on Illumination, Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage. The Commission is devoted to standardization in illumination and related areas that include color. The CIE developed mathematical modes to quantify light sources, objects and observers as a function of wavelength. In 1931, the CIE defined a basic concept for the description of color on the basis of the CIE standard colorimetric observer. One common result was the development of the Chromaticity Diagram, a basic color space for plotting colors.

- (Pronounced "see-l a b". Also referred to as L*a*b* and Lab.) A uniform device independent color space in which colors are located within a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system. The three dimensions are lightness (L), redness/greenness (a) and yellowness/blueness (b).

- A color space consisting of the subtractive primaries of cyan, magenta and yellow.

- A color model used in the printing industry to reproduce color in the printing industry. The addition of black makes up for the practical limitations of trying to reproduce a deep black by using CMY colorants.

- The ability to work with and understand color; includes both inherited skills and work experience.

- Three-dimensional characteristic of the appearance of an object. One dimension usually defines the lightness, the other two together define color.

- Common term used in video production workflow for a color test target.

- Perceived object color remains constant under different light sources.

- Mathematical equations that calculate the magnitude of difference between two colors.

- The difference between color coordinate values for two different samples. Quantifies the difference between two colors.

- Visual color difference is the difference between two colors that the human eye sees. It is usually described in qualitative terms such as lighter, darker, redder, greener, bluer, yellower, paler, etc.

- The process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture, video image, or still image either electronically, photo-chemically or digitally. The photo-chemical process is also referred to as color timing and is typically performed at a photographic laboratory.

- A color computer that performs the actual conversion of color data from one space to another with the aid of ICC profiles.

- Method for communicating color based on three-dimensional color space. For a collection of colors to be a color order system, the collection must represent all colors in three-dimensional color space, colors must have a logical visual progression or relationship to one another, any color introduced into the system must fit into the system in a logical sequence, a slight variation to an existing color can easily be described by partial steps, the system should provide values that allow easy communication even when a sample is not provides, and the medium used to represent the system must be consistent and reproducible. One of the most well known color order systems is Munsell.

- The process to reproduce colors on different devices. Two common methods used for reproducing color are additive color mixtures and subtractive color mixtures.

- The process of converting a color or image into CMYK for 4 color process printing. As there are different CMYK combinations that can be made to achieve certain target colors, separation settings must be defined for the specific process.

- In general, a collection of systematically ordered colors or a system for ordering colors. A color space can be defined by a physical collection of samples (e.g., Munsell), or by a mathematical system (e.g., CIELab, NTSC, PAL SECAM, or ITU-R Rec.BT.709).

- Method for communicating colors between customers, designers and printers. The most common color specification systems are Pantone and HKS, which are often used as color guides, swatch books or color libraries.

- An acceptable color difference between a standard (reference) and a sample.

- An analog video, composite video signal generated by a video-signal generator use to keep the chrominance subcarrier synchronized in a color television signal.

- An instrument or device for determining and specifying colors, specifically one used for chemical analysis by comparison of a liquid's color with standard colors.

- Color management architecture that is built into Apple computers.

- DE or E - This is a generic name for total color difference. It is used to indicate total color difference for all uniform color spaces. Total color difference is a single number that expresses the magnitude of the difference between two colors. The value tells nothing about the nature of the color difference.

- A measuring instrument that can determine reflective and/or transmissive density values. GretagMacbeth provides a series of professional densitometers for different applications in the graphic arts industry.

- A color space that is defined based on how a specific device reproduces color. RGB and CMYK are both device specific color spaces.

- A color space that can be used to describe all the colors seen by the human eye, independent of the colorants used to reproduce colors for a specific device.

- A digital camera profile describes the conversion of the digital camera specific RGB space to the CIELab system. The testchart determines which colors form the original will be converted to which RGB colors of the digital camera. However, since a testchart only covers part of the digital camera's entire gamut, it is the profiling software's job to supply a description of those colors that are in the outer areas of the device gamut.

- They describe the color spaces of the camera and the image. The monitor's profile tells the color management system how to translate the image's colors to the monitor's color space.

- The amount of light per unit area (the image plane illuminance times the exposure time) reaching a photographic film or electronic image sensor.

- Refers to a group of color rendering methods used to display images in color which were recorded in the visible or non-visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

- An unsteady glaring light usually resulting from reflection (as between lens surfaces) or an effect of the light (as a fogged or dense area in a photographic negative).

- The FOGRA Graphic Technology Research Association, located in Munich, Germany, is focused on research and development for printing technology. FOGRA's tasks are research, development, transfer of know-how to industry, development of standards, consultancy and technical reports.

- The range of colors that can be reproduced in a specific color space or on a specific device.

- Replaces gray areas with black, but unlike UCR, GCR also affects the progressively more saturated tones. GCR can thus produce a long, broad black.

- A graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data. It is an estimate of the probability distribution of a continuous variable (quantitative variable) and was first introduced by Karl Pearson.

- A color specification system used in the printing industry. The HKS system contains CMY combinations ordered by increments, and additional samples with different levels of black ink coverage. Due to varying printing inks, papers and printing processes, HKS colors serve only as approximate guides.

- One of the three attributes of color, which distinguishes red from green, blue from yellow, and so forth.

- Abbreviation for International Color Consortium, which was established in 1993 by the major suppliers of operating systems, application programs and peripherals. The ICC initiated the development and standardization of an open architecture for a color management system (CMS) that is independent of suppliers and platforms.

- An illuminant is a simulation of a light source. Technically speaking, it is a mathematical representation of a theoretical real light source. The numbers represent the relative power of the theoretical source at each point in the visible spectrum.

- Mathematical representation of tungsten halogen (incandescent). Color temperature: 2856K. Simulates typical home or store accent lighting.

- Mathematical representation of commercial, wide band fluorescent used in the USA (cool white fluorescent). Color temperature: 4150K. Simulates typical office or store lighting in the USA.

- Mathematical representation of noon sky daylight. Color temperature: 5000K. Used for evaluating color uniformity and quality in the graphic arts industry.

- Mathematical representation of noon sky daylight. Color temperature: 5500K. Simulates the CIE average noon sky daylight.

- Mathematical representation of average north sky daylight. Color temperature: 6500K. Most common daylight illuminant used for general evaluation of color.

- Mathematical representation of north sky daylight. Color temperature: 7500K. Used for general evaluation of color, and visual evaluation of opaque materials as outlined by ASTM D1729.

- Mathematical representation of commercial, rare earth phosphor, narrow band fluorescent used in Europe and the Pacific Rim. Simulates typical office or store lighting in Europe and the Pacific Rim.

- A unit used in the measurement of composite video signals. Its name is derived from the initials of the Institute Radio Engineers. A value of 100 IRE was originally defined to be the range from black to white in a video signal.

- Electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the range from 380 (violet) to about 770 (red) nanometers (nm), and can be perceived by the normal, unaided human eye.

- That element in an instrument or in the visual observing situation that furnishes radiant energy in the form of light.

- One of the three attributes of color, which distinguishes light from dark.

- A pair of colors that match when viewed under one set of viewing conditions, but no longer match if the viewing conditions are changed.

- A phenomenon exhibited by a pair of colors that match under one or more set of conditions, be they real or calculated, but do not match when these conditions are changed.

- A special formula that calculates the difference between two colors under two different light sources. An MI of greater than 2.0 usually indicates that the metamerism is visible to the human eye.

- To achieve predictable color reproduction on the monitor, the monitor must be calibrated before generating a monitor profile. This will ensure that the monitor can reproduce the optimal color gamut.

- A monitor profile describes the RGB corner coordinates, the gradations curves for each color channel, the black point and the white point.

- Three-dimensional color order system developed by the artist, Albert H. Munsell in 1905. In the Munsell System, color is identified by the attributes of hue (H), value (V) and chroma.

- Unit of measure equal to one millionth of a millimeter. Wavelengths are measured in nanometers.

- One of the three components necessary for the phenomenon of color to occur.

- The response of the average normal human eye at each wavelength has been measured through extensive experimentation by the CIE. Since there are three color sensor types, there are three observer functions that comprise what is known as the standard observer.

- Term used to describe complete opacity, i.e. degree to which a specimen obscures the substrate beneath it; opposite of transparent.

- Opponent Color Theory explains conceptually how the human visual system perceives color. To the human visual system, red and green are opposites and yellow and blue are opposites. This means that if something is red, it has no green in it (but it may also be blue or yellow) and if something is yellow, it has no blue in it (but it may also be red or green). This theory is the basis for most uniform color spaces, such as CIELab and CIELCh.

- One of the best known color specification systems used by designers and printers to communicate color. Available in Coated, Uncoated, and Matte, each swatch book contains a series of colors that can be referenced based on the assigned PANTONE notation.

- Using the printer profile, the color management system translates the image's colors to the printer's color space, so the colors appear correctly in print.

- Common term used in video production workflow for a monitor calibration device.

- In a photographic workflow, a color profile describes how a device reproduces color. Custom profiles are created using color management software for each device in the workflow – cameras, monitors, tablets, phones, projectors, and printers.

- In a video workflow, a color profile describes the process of creating a specific look (LUT) for the video footage.

- The color management system translates the image's colors to the projector's color space, so the colors appear correctly when it is displayed on a screen.

- In evaluating color difference, the reference is the color against which all measurements are compared. Also referred to as Standard.

- Methods established by the ICC to define the objective for a color conversion. For example, when reproducing a logo color, the goal is to achieve the closest match possible, yet when reproducing an image, the goal is accurately reproduce the overall tonal range.

- The three primary colors (Red, Green and Blue) for additive color mixing. Color televisions, computer monitors and stage lighting use these additive primaries to reproduce colors.

- In evaluating color difference, the sample is the target color to be measured and compared to the reference.

- One of the three attributes of color, which indicates the purity of a color. The more gray a color contains, the less saturated it is. We often distinguish the purity of a color by describing it as stronger or weaker.

- A scanner profile describes the conversion of the scanner specific RGB space to the CIELab system. The testchart determines which colors form the original will be converted to which RGB colors of the scanner. However, since a testchart only covers part of the scanner's entire gamut, it is the profiling software's job to supply a description of those colors that are in the outer areas of the device gamut.

- The phenomenon that occurs when the surrounding color influences how a color is perceived.

- Method for uniquely identifying an object based on each wavelength of light is reflected from it.

- The spectral reflectance curve graphically depicts the color composition of an object. The x-axis shows the wavelengths, starting with 380nm and ending with 700nm, and the y-axis shows the relative reflectance (the amount of light reflected from the object in %).

- A photometric device for the measurement of spectral reflectance, transmittance or emission (monitors). The measured values are reported graphically (the spectral curve of the measured object) and numerically (at intervals across the visible spectrum).

- In evaluating color difference, the standard is the color against which all measurements are compared. Also referred to as Reference.

- The CIE conducted experiments to quantify to standard observer. Two separate sets of experiments were done. In 1931, the experiments were done using a 2° field of view (much like looking at one's thumbnail at arm's length). This resulted in the establishment of the 2° observer. In 1974, a second set of experiments was done using a 10° filed of view (which correlated better to how most colors are viewed). This resulted in the establishment of the 10° observer.

- Produced by combining color pigments or dyes, using the primaries of cyan, magenta and yellow. By combining all three primary colors, the resulting image appears black (since all light is absorbed).

- The color management system translates the image's colors to the tablet’s color space, so the colors appear correctly when it is displayed on screen.

- Collection of color patches that are used to generate ICC profiles for input and output devices. Testcharts are provided on paper or transparent materials, and also as files.

- Color grading is the process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture, video image, or still image either electronically, photo-chemically or digitally. The photo-chemical process is also referred to as color timing and is typically performed at a photographic laboratory. Modern color correction, whether for theatrical film, video distribution, or print is generally done digitally in a color suite.

- Minor portions of C, M and Y are inserted under the neutral and dark areas to enhance brilliance and contrast.

- A method by which a portion of gray shades composed of cyan, yellow and magenta is replaced with black. UCR has the greatest impact in neutral and dark tones close to the gray axis. Repro professionals refer to this as a short, narrow black.

- Radiant energy below just below the visible spectrum.

- A color space in which equivalent numerical differences represent equivalent visual differences, regardless of location within the color space. A truly uniform color space has been the goal of color scientists for many years. Most color spaces, though not perfectly uniform, are referred to as uniform color spaces, since they are more nearly uniform when compared to the chromaticity diagram.

- An attribute of color used in the Munsell System to indicate the lightness of an object viewed in daylight, on a scale from 0 for the ideal black to 10 for the ideal white, in steps that are visually equal.

- A special type of oscilloscope used in both audio and video applications. Whereas an oscilloscope or waveform monitor normally displays a plot of signal vs. time, a vectorscope displays an X-Y plot of two signals, which can reveal details about the relationship between these two signals.

- A special, enclosed light box used for evaluating color samples, proofs, and printed material under controlled lighting conditions.

- When performing visual color evaluation, it is critical to control the conditions associated with viewing geometry (the angle at which the object is viewed and the direction from which light strikes the object) and sample surround.

- That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between 380 nm and 700 nm that can be seen by the human eye.

- A special type of oscilloscope used in television production applications. It is typically used to measure and display the level, or voltage, of a video signal with respect to time. The level of a video signal usually corresponds to the brightness, or luminance, of the part of the image being drawn onto a regular video screen at the same point in time. A waveform monitor can be used to display the overall brightness of a television picture, or it can zoom in to show one or two individual lines of the video signal. It can also be used to visualize and observe special signals in the vertical blanking interval of a video signal, as well as the colorburst between each line of video.

- The distance between the crests of two adjacent waves.

- The lightest color that can be reproduced. On monitors, the lightest color that can be reproduced, ideally with 100%RGB. If you compare 100% RGB on two monitors side-by-side, one may look distinctly blue compared to the other. On scanners, the definition of the color that the scanner should interpret as white. This is used to control highlight and shadow reproduction. In printing, the white point depends on the whiteness of the paper. In colorimetric terms, the white point is defined as the chromaticity of a white light source or other emissive object. The white point may be expressed in terms of correlated color temperature or chromaticity coordinates.

- Feature that allows you to see where certain areas of brightness in the frame may be "blown out," or too bright. When this happens at a certain level, the Zebra Stripes show up on that area to indicate that it may be too bright. These Zebra Stripes are just a series of black stripes that move in a distracting pattern, and though you may never have heard them referred to as this you will likely find them familiar.