CIE – Walter S. Stiles

A «metric» of colour-space is intended to describe the variation of colour induced by any two elements from the three-dimensional diversity of colours as perceived within the eye of an observer under set conditions of observation. In spite of the apparent simplicity of this task, its implementation is by no means straightforward: the shape of the curves of the line-elements depends on numerous measurements, complex assumptions and physical laws. The illustration shows just one possibility of recording such variations in colour perception and relies on the selection of a line-element within the colour-space which indicates the perceivable differences between two adjacent colours as exactly as possible. Subsequent mathematical calculations then lead to the surface within the colour-space as shown. (Detailed text)


Date: The geometrical portrayal of a colour-space originated in 1946.

Country of origin: USA

Basic colours: Red, green and blue

Form: «Linear element»

Application: Colorimetry

Related systems: HelmholtzCIECIE-MacAdam

Bibliography: W. S. Stiles, «A modified Helmholtz line element in brightness-colour-space», Proceedings of the Physical Society London 58, pp. 41-65 (1946); G. Wyszecki und W. S. Stiles, «Color Science», New York 1967.