CIE chromaticity system

1931 CIE chromaticity diagram

Description

A standard trichroma system for specifying colors tha was developed by the Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) in 1931. The CIE color model is a visual perception system based on three colors, red (X), green (Y), and blue (Z) recognized by the color receptors in the eye. These primaries (X, Y, an Z) are called the tristimulus or trichroma values. The chromaticity coordinates (x, y, and z) are calculated as the fractional values of the three primaries. Since the sum of x, y and z equals 1, two of the fractional values are sufficient to define an unknown color. Thus a two-dimensional chromaticity diagram can be plotted with the x coordinate along the abscissa, and the y coordinate along the ordinate. The two-dimensional chromaticity diagram forms a parabolic curve where the pure spectral colors located on the edge. A straight line (purple boundary) joins the red and violet ends of the spectral locus. The achromatic colors (white, gray, black) accur in the third dimension along a line passing perpendicular through the center of the plot. The chromaticity diagram works well for the description of homogeneous color systems but can fail when used on hetergeneous systems such as paints and dyes fibers.

Synonyms and Related Terms

CIE color standard; CIE chromaticity diagram

Additional Information

CIE: information

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Thomas B. Brill, Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities, Plenum Press, New York City, 1980

• Website address 1 Comment: http://www.arce.ukans.edu/book/color/classif.htm