CIE colour appearance models: A current perspective

Abstract

This paper reviews CIE colour appearance models over the last three decades. It is divided into three stages: pre-1997, between 1997 and 2002 and post 2002. Before 1997, a number of colour appearance models were developed and experimental psychophysical datasets were accumulated to aid the development of these models and help with their verification. In 1997, CIECAM97s was the first model formally recommended by CIE. In 2002, CIECAM02 was recommended, a refinement of CIECAM97s. These models were limited to related colours of approximately two degrees, viewed under photopic conditions. Since that time work has progressed to develop a comprehensive colour appearance model to include the prediction of correlates of colour appearance over the photopic to scotopic range, the variation of stimulus size, the appearance of unrelated colours – light sources – and a uniform colour space to allow the calculation of colour difference in appearance space.