Color

Introduction to Color
for
Automotive Coatings

Property of PPG Industries

All rights reserved

Color

Course Objectives
Understand standardized color
terminology
Identify important attributes of
color
Understand basic numerical
color values
2

Color

3 Requirements for Color Perception

Color

Light
The Type and Intensity of the light
shining on an object has an effect
on our perception of the color of
that object

Light Sources

Color

Spectral Power Distribution

Daylight

Cool White Fluorescent

Incandescent

Sodium

Color

Observer
Many factors effect how
individuals perceive color. We
are all different and can
perceive the same color
differently

Color

Factors that affect Color Perception

Standard

Batch

Environment

Samples

Observer

Light Source

Size

Experience

Background

Material

Duration of
Observation

Texture
Gloss

Viewing Geometry
Observer Differences
7

Color

The next slide will demonstrate how

viewing time can effect our color
perception

Color

10

Color

Color

Object
For the purpose of this class, the
object we are referring to is a
vehicle and\or a part of the vehicle
Orientation between the observer,
object and the light source, object
geometry, and the application
process are all factors that effect
color and\or our color perception of
an object
11

Color

Visual Observation Angles

12

Color

Applications Effect on Color

Film Builds Hiding Capability
Film Splits - 1st Pass and 2nd Pass Ratios
Foil Solids Wet / Dry Application
Metallic Flake Orientation - Travel

13

Orientation of Pigments
The Orientation of Effect Pigments is Critical

Color

Solid Colors - Have no Orientation Issues - Particle Size

Aluminum & Mica Flakes - Have Maximum Effect - Parallel to
Surface
Aligned these flakes correctly Maximizes Face & Flop Color
Travel
Misaligned Reduces Metallic Effect & Color Travel

14

Color

Color Description
and
Terminology

15

Color

Automotive Exterior Color Attributes

Value
Hue
Chroma

16

Color

Albert Munsell was an

Artist and Color
Historian who believed
that it was important to
communicate color in
very precise terms. He
developed a color
ordering system that is
the basis for all modern
Color Ordering
Systems used today.
His system was the first
to use the 3 visual
attributes to describe
color

Albert Munsell
17

Color

These three dimensions

of visual color are
defined as:
Hue: The attribute whereby
Red is distinguished
from Green, Blue
from Yellow, etc.
Value: The lightness (or
darkness) of a color.
Chroma: The Saturation,
Intensity or distance from
gray

Albert Munsell
18

Color

Using these
three
attributes,
Munsell
ordered
colours into
a figure that
we call the
Munsell
Visual
Colour Solid

Munsell Visual Color Solid

19

The 3 visual attributes of

color are easily seen:

Color

Value

Chroma

Hue

Munsell Visual Color Solid

20

Munsell Chroma and Value

5.0 R

8/

Color

7/

6/

V
A
L
U
E

5/

4/

3/

2/

2/

4/

6/

8/

CHROMA

10/

12/

14/

21

Color

The Three Threes of Color

Light Source Object Observer
Hue Value Chroma
Near Specular Mid Specular
Far Specular

22

23

Color

Color

Exercises
Munsell Color
Chip Exercise

24

Color

Break Time

25

Color

X-Rite and Instrumental Color

26

Color

The MA68II is a Fully

Programmable Instrument

Standards
Positions of vehicle
Order of the positions
Tags
Average of readings
27

Color Evaluation

Color

Subjective / Objective

28

Color

Measurement Geometry of the X-Rite MA68II

29

Color

CIELAB Color Space:

Value

Mathematically
rendered and
normalized spherical
solid containing all the
attributes of visual color
perception

Chroma
Hue

30

CIELAB Colour Space

Color

Lightness
(L*)

+b*

-a*

+a*

-b*

Darkness
(-L*)

31

Color

L*a*b* Color Differences

32

Color

L*a*b* COLOR DIFFERENCES

33

Color

Basic X-Rite Color Plot 1 Angle (75 Degrees)

34

Color

Light Green Met. - X-Rite Color Plots 3 Angles (25, 45, 75 Degrees)

35

Silver Metallic
Color Travel across 3 Angles Lightness \ Darkness
63.26

40.17

Color

106.08

10/6/2005

36

Color

General Instrumental Color Data report

37

Color

Exercises
Color Intensity /
Color Differences

38

Saturation Experiment
(Red Milk)

Color

3 variations of color intensity.

Pastel (C=10), Medium (C=24) and
Saturated (C=45).
No Theoretical Change in Hue.

Addition of 2 Units (Drops) of color

to each Sample.
Do you see a difference? Which Sample?
Why?
39

Color

Different Color Intensity means different

levels of Color Difference Perceptibility
Pastel Color Big Change
Medium Color Small Change
Saturated Color No Change

40

Color

The CMC formula is a

mathematical
extension of the
CIELAB system, and it
defines an ellipsoid
around a standard.
The relative volume of
the ellipsoid is
determined by the
standards Hue,
Lightness, and
Chroma values, and
varies dependant
upon the standards
position in colour
space
41

Things to Remember when

Taking Remote X-Rite Readings

Color

Read (reasonably) flat surfaces

Better repeatability
More reliable information

Keep instrument head perpendicular to the

ground
Standardize data collection
Metal orientation in respect to instrument position

Each sample should be an average of 3

readings
Better repeatability
More reliable information
42

Color

Limiting On-Line Variation

Using a 3 reading average
Standardized instrument alignment
Take readings as close to the source as
possible
Vehicles can be warm but not hot to the touch

Watch for polish residue on the finesse deck

Quick check for mars or debris on vehicle that
may effect results
Making good decisions for data collection
Avoid curved surfaces
Continuity between shifts
Beware of the parking lot (dirty vehicle)
43

Color Quiz

Color

1. What are the 3 attributes of color?

2. Typically, what 3 angles of viewing do
we use to evaluate color differences?

44

Color Quiz

Color

3. What is the typical definition of color

travel?
4. If a sample is Further from the center
of color space than the standard, it is
more or less chromatic?

45

Color

Color Quiz
6. If you have 2 colors, one is achromatic
and one is very chromatic, and you
add the same amount of color to the
samples, which one will have the
greatest color shift?
7. If the application causes the metallic
flake to lay parallel to the panel
surface, will you have a brighter
face\darker flop or a darker
face\brighter flop?
46

Color

Color Quiz
8. If you have a sample with the following
L,A,B values, what color is the sample?
L= 88
A= -5
B= +76
9. If you have a sample with the following
L,A,B values, what color is the sample?
L= 44
A= +14
B= - 26
47

Color

Questions ?

48