Color Delta E Calculator

Delta E Equation:

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

L1 (Lightness):

a1 (Red-Green):

b1 (Yellow-Blue):

L2 (Lightness):

a2 (Red-Green):

b2 (Yellow-Blue):

Delta E:

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1. What is Delta E?

Delta E (ΔE) is a metric used to quantify the difference between two colors in the CIELAB color space. It represents the perceptual difference between colors as perceived by the human eye, with lower values indicating more similar colors.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Delta E equation:

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

Where:

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

Explanation: The equation calculates the Euclidean distance between two points in the three-dimensional CIELAB color space.

3. Importance of Delta E Calculation

Details: Delta E is crucial in color-critical industries such as printing, photography, graphic design, and manufacturing for ensuring color consistency and quality control across different devices and materials.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the L, a, and b values for both colors. The calculator will compute the Delta E value, which indicates the perceptual difference between the two colors.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do different Delta E values mean?
A: ΔE < 1: Not perceptible by human eyes; 1-2: Perceptible through close observation; 2-10: Perceptible at a glance; >11: Colors are more different than similar.

Q2: What is CIELAB color space?
A: CIELAB is a color space defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) that describes all colors visible to the human eye.

Q3: Are there different Delta E formulas?
A: Yes, there are several variations including ΔE76 (shown here), ΔE94, and ΔE2000, each with different weighting factors for improved perceptual uniformity.

Q4: What industries use Delta E measurements?
A: Printing, textile, automotive, photography, graphic design, and any industry where color consistency is critical.

Q5: How accurate is Delta E for color perception?
A: While Delta E provides a good approximation, human color perception can be influenced by various factors including lighting conditions and individual differences.