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MIXORA CONCEPT

Color space

A coordinate system and set of rules used to represent colors numerically.

colorbridgeStrong evidence
IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

RGB, CIELAB and other spaces encode different relationships for different jobs. Coordinates only have meaning with the space, reference white and conversion assumptions that define them.

What “Strong evidence” means

The core definition or effect is well established across authoritative standards, foundational research or a broad research literature. The label does not make every practical prediction certain.

Marker-board illustration created specifically to explain Color space: A coordinate system and set of rules used to represent colors numerically.VISUAL EXPLANATION · MARKER BOARD
A coordinate system and set of rules used to represent colors numerically.
EXAMPLE

The numbers 50, 20 and 10 could mean entirely different colors in RGB and CIELAB.

COMMON CONFUSION

A color space is not a physical palette and its coordinates are not universal color names.

ASK YOURSELF

Which space, profile and reference white give these numbers meaning?

RELATED CONCEPTS
color × bridgeRGB

A family of color encodings based on amounts of red, green and blue light primaries.

color × bridgeCMYK

A process-printing model using cyan, magenta, yellow and black colorants.

color × bridgeColor gamut

The range of colors a device, process or chosen set of colorants can produce.

color × bridgeDelta E

A numerical estimate of perceived difference between two specified colors in a color space.

References

Last reviewed

  1. 01
    Colorimetry, 4th Edition

    CIE · 2018 · International Commission on Illumination

    Definitions and standard colorimetric practice.
    Reference source
What the source labels mean
Primary source
Original work, experiment, standard or historical text.
Academic source
Scholarly research or review published for an academic audience.
Reference source
An expert standard, encyclopedia or institutional explanation that summarizes a field.
General reference
A practical specialist resource useful for application, but not treated as decisive research by itself.