Designation: D 4086 – 92a (Reapproved 2003)

Standard Practice for

Visual Evaluation of Metamerism1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4086; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

INTRODUCTION

Because perceived color involves the spectral characteristics of source, object, and eye, different
combinations of spectral characteristics can evoke the same color sensation. For this reason,
metamerism has been described as “invisible spectral differences.”
A pair of specimens is said to be metameric when the specimens match under one set of illuminating
and viewing conditions and do not match under another set. For this condition to exist, there must be
differences in spectral character of specimens and sources or specimens and observers. There may be
more than one condition under which the specimens match, as well as more than one for which they
are a mismatch. Similarly, two specimens may be a near-match under one set of conditions, and under
another set the direction and magnitude of the color difference may change.

1. Scope D 2616 Test Method for Evaluation of Visual Color Differ-

1.1 This practice describes visual methods for detecting ence With a Gray Scale
metamerism and for estimating the magnitude of a metameric E 284 Terminology of Appearance
color difference. 3. Terminology
1.2 The practice is limited to the consideration of illuminant
metamerism and observer metamerism. It is not designed to 3.1 Definitions of appearance terms used in this practice
cover so-called geometric metamerism, in which members of may be found in Terminology E 284.
specimen pairs change relative appearance as the angles of 3.2 Definitions:
illumination and viewing are changed, for example, because 3.2.1 metamerism, n—property of two specimens that
they incorporate flake metal or pearlescent colorants. match under a specified illuminator and to a specified observer
1.3 This practice does not provide for the computation of and whose spectral reflectances or transmittances differ in the
indices of metamerism based upon instrumental measurement visible wavelengths.
of spectral characteristics. 3.2.1.1 Discussion—As a consequence of the required dif-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the ference, the two specimens may not match under a different
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the illuminator or to a different observer. Similar considerations
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- apply to two lights matching to a specified observer but not to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- other observers. (E 284)
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2.2 paramerism, n—phenomenon in which specimens
having different spectrophotometric curves produce approxi-
2. Referenced Documents mately the same color sensation under the same illuminating
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 and viewing conditions. (E 284)
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Metameric color matches result from the use of different
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color and colorants (pigments, dyes, and the like) in achieving the same
Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.11 on Visual
Methods. color match. Usually, the purchaser requires that the color
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. Originally match be nonmetameric; this practice permits this requirement
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 1992 as D 4086 – 92a (1997)e1. to be quickly tested in both field and laboratory. Where
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
nonmetameric matches are not possible or practicable, for cost
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on or other reasons, some limitation of metamerism may be
the ASTM website. required. The procedures for estimating the magnitude of

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 4086 – 92a (2003)
metamerism described in this practice provide methods for D 2616, Section 5.1 that, the total color difference can be so
assessing the effectiveness of such limitation. evaluated in terms of an equivalent lightness difference.
Observers can be expected to reproduce such evaluations
5. Test Specimens within a half-step on the gray scale.
5.1 This practice does not cover the preparation of test NOTE 1—Visual Evaluation of Spectral Reflectance Curves—When
specimens. The method shall be agreed upon between the specimens that match under one set of circumstances are measured on a
purchaser and the seller. spectrophotometer that produces a reflectance curve in the visual region of
the spectrum, direct comparison of such curves will disclose if there is
6. Procedure for Visual Detection of Metamerism metamerism. It is convenient to plot the spectral curves of the two
6.1 Illuminant Metamerism—After observing that a pair of members of a metameric pair on the same sheet. The curves must intersect
a minimum of three times for specimens to be metameric. Specimens are
specimens is a visual match under one light source, the
not metameric when the curves intersect only one or two times in the
observer should view the specimens under one or more sources visible wavelengths, or when the curves do not intersect, but are merely
having distinctly different spectral power distributions. Among proportionally higher or lower in reflectance throughout the wavelength
the suggested sources are daylight, incandescent light, and region. Judgment of the degree of metamerism by qualitative visual
fluorescent lamp light. The larger the differences in spectral inspection of spectrophotometric curves requires considerable skill and
character of the sources, the easier it is to detect small degrees experience.
of metamerism. 8. Report
6.2 Observer Metamerism—Specimens that are a match to
8.1 Report the following information:
one observer under a given light source are then viewed by
8.1.1 Identification of the specimens,
other normal observers under the same conditions. Typically,
8.1.2 Procedures employed,
five to ten observers should be used so that the results are not
8.1.3 Results observed in Section 6,
biased by differences among observers within the range of
8.1.4 Matching gray scale pair in Section 7,
normal color vision. Replicate judgments by each observer
8.1.5 Observed qualitative differences in hue, saturation,
may also be useful. Observer metamerism is indicated when
and lightness in accordance with Section 8.2.1 of Test Method
there is obvious disagreement among observers as to the
D 2616,
magnitude and direction of the color difference.
8.1.6 Number of observers and whether or not they were
7. Procedures for Estimating Degrees of Metamerism tested for color vision anomalies, and
8.1.7 Description of light sources used as to type, size, color
7.1 When the existence of metamerism has been established
temperature, and spectral power distribution.
by visual evaluation of a pair of specimens, as indicated in
Section 6, the degree of metamerism for that combination of 9. Precision and Bias
source and observer can be determined by a visual estimate of 9.1 Precision—The only quantitative portion of this prac-
the color difference. Use is made of paired gray scales, as tice, for which consideration of precision is appropriate, is
specified in Test Method D 2616, that display increasingly Section 7, where use is made of Test Method D 2616. The
larger color differences with each successive pair of grays in precision statements of that test method should be consulted if
the scale. The metameric specimen pair is placed in juxtapo- D 2616 is used.
sition with the edge of the gray scale and compared with 9.2 Bias—There are no recognized standards by which to
various gray pairs. The total perceived color difference be- assess the bias of this practice.
tween the two members of the test pair is compared to the
lightness differences of the pairs on the gray scale, and the gray 10. Keywords
scale pair is selected that is the best visual equivalent to the 10.1 metamerism; visual examination-color; visual
color difference of the test pair. It is assumed, as in Test Method examination-metamerism

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