Color distance

The color distance is a term from color science that describes the difference between two colors in the color model or color space. It indicates how large the visual difference between two colors is and is often used to quantify the perceptibility of color differences. In practice, the color distance is particularly important for quality control in color matching and color matching to ensure that the colors of a product meet the desired standards and do not show any undesirable deviations.

The color distance is measured in various color spaces that convert the color information into a mathematical structure, such as in the common CIELAB or RGB models. In the CIELAB color space, which is often used in industrial color measurement, the color distance is calculated as the distance between two points in three-dimensional space. The dimensions of the colors are represented as L*, a* and b*, where L* describes the lightness, a* the green-red component and b* the blue-yellow component. The color distance between two colors in the CIELAB model can then be calculated as the Euclidean distance between the corresponding points in space. A larger color distance usually means a more noticeable color difference.

The choice of the correct color space and the appropriate method for calculating the color distance depends on the application. In many cases, for example in the automotive industry, the textile industry or in the production of consumer goods, the aim is to achieve the smallest possible color difference in order to avoid color deviations and ensure uniform color quality. A small color distance means that the colors are perceived as very similar, while a larger distance indicates a more noticeable difference.