Delta E Calculation Formula

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 Result:

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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 Euclidean distance between two color points, where a lower Delta E value indicates a closer color match.

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 straight-line 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, textile manufacturing, and digital design for ensuring color consistency and accuracy across different devices and materials.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the L, a, and b values for both color samples. The calculator will compute the Delta E value, with lower values indicating better color matches.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered an acceptable Delta E value?
A: Typically, ΔE < 1 is not perceptible to the human eye, ΔE 1-2 is barely perceptible, ΔE 2-10 is perceptible but acceptable for most applications, and ΔE > 10 is considered a different color.

Q2: Are there different Delta E formulas?
A: Yes, there are several Delta E formulas including ΔE76 (shown here), ΔE94, and ΔE2000, each with different weighting factors for improved perceptual uniformity.

Q3: What is the CIELAB color space?
A: CIELAB is a color space defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1976, designed to be perceptually uniform, where equal distances represent equal perceived color differences.

Q4: How is Delta E used in quality control?
A: Manufacturers use Delta E to ensure color consistency in production, set color tolerance limits, and verify that products meet color specifications.

Q5: Can Delta E be negative?
A: No, Delta E represents a distance and is always a positive value. A Delta E of zero means the colors are identical.