CIE L*a*b* and Munsell

About the CIELAB color space and Munsell color system references

Introduction

Some manufacturer includes color notations in their charts or technical documentation. That color notation defines the color much more accurately than a color name.

Two systems used most frequently to describe colors are Munsell notation, and CIE L*a*b. You can read about those on Handprint or check the links on the Colour Online by David Briggs.

Whenever those notations from the manufacturers are available, I display them on the page. When only Munsell notation is provided (in most of the cases) I display only an interpolated CIE L*a*b* value. To calculate, I use the munsellinterpol R package. Here's an example:

Medium Attributes, Swatch Code Name Pigments
Pc
 #<Company:0x00007ffb957a4688> Poster Colour 013 Heliotrope PW6, PV3 painted swatch#<Company:0x00007ffb957a4688> Poster Colour 013 Heliotrope PW6, PV3 mixed with white painted swatch#<Company:0x00007ffb957a4688> Poster Colour 013 Heliotrope PW6, PV3 mixed with black painted swatch
★☆
013
Nicker Poster Colour (poster_color)
Heliotrope
Munsell: 0.5P 5.5/10.5
CIE Lab: L*55.89 a*23.02 b*-37.7
  		 PW6  PV3

Under the CIE L*a*b* value I also display the calculated color value in sRGB (along with the fact if it's out of gamut). For this calculation, I use the algorithm, based on the information on EasyRGB. (D65 10° daylight). Here's an example of an out of gamut conversion. In this case, most likely the scanned image is also off.

Medium Attributes, Swatch Code Name Pigments
G
 #<Company:0x00007ffb958a9470> Artists' Gouache G571 Pure Blue PB15 painted swatch#<Company:0x00007ffb958a9470> Artists' Gouache G571 Pure Blue PB15 mixed with white painted swatch#<Company:0x00007ffb958a9470> Artists' Gouache G571 Pure Blue PB15 mixed with black painted swatch
★★☆☆
G571
Holbein Artists' Gouache (gouache)
Pure Blue
ピュア ブルー (jp)
Munsell: 3.5PB 4.0/11.5
CIE Lab: L*40.59 a*-0.4 b*-46.66
  		 PB15

Brands with Munsell and interpolated CIE L*a*b* information

Daler Rowney Cryla Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden Williamsburg Oil CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Acryla Gouache Acrylic gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Acrylic Ink Ink acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Artists' Gouache Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Artists' Oil Color (HOC) Oil CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker Acrylic Gouache Acrylic gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker Designers Colour Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker Poster Colour Poster color CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner Acryl Gouache Acrylic gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner Design Gouache Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner Poster Colour Poster color CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner U-35 Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane

Brands with CIE L*a*b* information

Daler Rowney Cryla Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden Fluid Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden Heavy Body Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden OPEN Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden SoFlat Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden Williamsburg Oil CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Acryla Gouache Acrylic gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Acrylic Ink Ink acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Artists' Gouache Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein Artists' Oil Color (HOC) Oil CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker Acrylic Gouache Acrylic gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker Designers Colour Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker Poster Colour Poster color CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke Designers' Gouache (HKS) [Series 25] Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke HORADAM Aquarell [Series 14] Watercolor CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner Acryl Gouache Acrylic gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner Design Gouache Gouache CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner Poster Colour Poster color CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner U-35 Acrylic CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane

Other sources

There are other sources for CIE L*a*b* values, based on 3rd party measurements. For example for different Schmincke brands, you can check the freieFarbe Color Database.

You can also check the CIALAB ab plane with pigments on Handprint.