Methods for improving the accuracy of CIE tristimulus values of object color by calculation Part II: Improvement on measurement wavelength ranges

Abstract

The previous paper (part I) analyzed test errors of the spectrophotometer and their reasons, then systematically investigated the algorithms to reduce measuring bandpass error and intervals error. This paper (part II) focuses on the influence of measurement wavelength ranges and their truncation errors, and some algorithms to overcome the truncation errors. CIE recommends that tristimulus values are calculated over a range of 360–830 nm. However, most spectrophotometers do not meet it. The reduction of measurement range will result in a measurement range error or a truncation error. In this study, five ranges commonly employed in practice are selected for investigating the truncation errors, and three extrapolation methods are used to extend the data to compensate for the measurement range loss. Results are obtained by employing 1301 Munsell color chips under illuminant D65 and CIE 1964 standard observer. For the standard 1-nm intervals, the narrower the range, the larger the truncation error. For the usual-measured 10-nm intervals, bandpass error and intervals error should be handled at the same time, 380–780 nm Table LWL gives the highest accurate outcomes, which even improve the accuracy of the range 360–750 nm to an acceptable level. Whereas, ranges of 360–700 nm and 400–700 nm still need extrapolation to reduce their truncation errors even with Table LWL. Three extrapolation methods of nearest, linear and second-order all reduce the truncation error, but for different ranges, algorithms and illuminants, the optimal method of extrapolation varies.