In colorimetry, metamerism is the perceived matching of colors with different (unmatched) spectral power distributions. Colors that match in this way are called metamers. Metameric pairings are quite common, especially in near-neutral, gray or whitish colors or dark colors. As colors become brighter or more saturated, the range of possible metameric pairings, i.e. different combinations of light wavelengths, shrinks, especially in colors from surface reflection spectra.
Essentially, the phenomenon of metamerism is the display of colors in different light sources. That is, a material viewed under shop lighting may look different when viewed under different lights. Two samples that appear to match under one light source may not match under a different light source if their spectral characteristics are different. This creates a problem under a range of different light sources. Developed by BMW, a multinational vehicle manufacturer company headquartered in Germany, the BMW AA-0403 standard defines a test method for visual color evaluation and metamerism control.
In industries where color matching or color tolerances are extremely important, using materials with metameric color matching instead of spectral color matching is a big challenge. Color accuracy is an issue for a wide variety of industries. Aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, textiles, plastics, and many more rely on getting accurate color matches, but similar problems end up running out. A wide variety of substrates, which also need to provide a color match in the automotive industry, poses a serious risk of metamerism. This, combined with extremely stringent color quality standards, makes automotive color matching an extremely difficult process.
Technically, metamerism is not measured in advanced laboratories, but it is detected. Color and appearance are accurately measured digitally by visual means, using a light box or color evaluation cabinet, and digitally using a spectrophotometer.
Among the numerous tests, measurements, analyses, and evaluations our organization provides for businesses in various sectors, we also offer testing services for visual color evaluation and metamerism control under the BMW AA-0403 standard, utilizing a trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.
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