CIE Lab, HLC, and Munsell

Color notation systems

Random example of a brand's paint on Lab planes

Couleurs Leroux Pigments Purs Leroux

Introduction

Many paints (and also pencils, pastels, etc.) on this site (20.1% of the total 41743), in addition to the pigment information, also have a color notation. This is a way to describe a color in a standardized way. There are many different color notation systems, I use CIE L*a*b*, Oklab, and Munsell. They help to describe the hue, the lightness, the chromaticity, show the relationship between colors or to find similar ones. Also help in practical tasks like looking for a cooler or warmer or a more chromatic colors.

To learn more those systems, check Handprint or Colour Online by David Briggs.

On this site, I use this data to make navigation easier:

Sources

Whenever those notations are available, I display them next to the paint. Sources for color notations (in this order):

  1. Published by the manufacturer. For some (mostly Japanese) brands it's common practice to have Munsell values on their color charts.
  2. My own measurements. I paint and measure samples (color chips or swatches). Disclaimer: I don't have access to a high-end colorimeter or spectrophotometer, so these numbers are not up to any scientific or industrial standards. I'll give a more detailed description about my method later.

Other Sources

There are some other great sources available for color notations for artist materials:

  1. Watercolors: CIE L*a*b* and CIECAM02 values for watercolors are available on handprint.com.
  2. Oil: A Munsell explorer is available on colorwell.org.
  3. Pastels: Almost 3000 Munsell notations for pastels are available on Paul Centore's An Artist's Guide to Pastel Colours page.
  4. Different mediums: Multiple artist brand's CIE readings available in the freiFarbe Colour Database.
  5. Different mediums: Color Mixing Tools contains measured data for many paint lines.

Calculations

Depending on the color measurement source, I use the following methods to calculate / interpolate:

  • HLCLabXYZRGB I use algorithms based on the math from EasyRGB
  • Chromatic adaptation algorithms based on matrices from Bruce Lindbloom's page
  • XYZDisplay P3 RGB and REC2020 RGB based on the CSS4 working draft algorithms
  • When a converted RGB value is out of gamut, currently I simply clamp the value. That's the most rudimentary way to do it, however, in some cases it leads to off result. I'm working on some more sophisticated method.
  • LabCieCAM02, MunsellLab: for conversions/ interpolation I use the colour-science/colour Python package
  • For many on the fly calculations, I use Culori.js.
  • Displaying the color atlases heavily based on the - still work in progress - CSS4 Color Module. Read more about colors in your browser.

The data sources for the color navigators are:

Own measurements

As I mentioned earlier, my own measurements are not up to scientific or industrial standards. For that, I would need to be able to prepare samples in a much more consistent way (e.g. film applicator) and I would need to use a high-end spectrophotometer. But I'm trying to do the best I can with the tools I have in a home/hobby environment.

1. Samples

  1. I try to prepare my own samples with a repeatable workflow to get consistent measurements.
    • For watercolor swatches, I paint & measure a concentrated, full-strength sample ("masstone"). For some paints, I also measure a second, slightly diluted sample ("tint"). For samples with an uneven surface, I take an average of three measurements.
    • For gouache and acrylic, I measure a painted tube color sample.
    • For oil, I measure the tube color, painted with palette knife with uniform thickness, and also a second measurement for tints, 1:1 (by volume) mixed with mixing white (PW6/PW5/PW7)
    • For pencils, I draw the samples with simple shading, with tripod grip, medium to high pressure (with the tip of the pencil) and aim for a good even coverage.

    I'll list the papers / boards used later because they can affect the color measurement.

  2. I can only make samples of the colors I own, so in some cases I use hand-painted charts from the manufacturers. I only do this if I do not have access to those colors + the entire product line is covered. These hand-painted charts are made with different techniques, which makes it harder to compare brands. But it usually gives a good impression of the product line itself. I add a comment next to the color measurement where the samples came from.

2. Color Measurement

Currently I'm using two different devices:

NCS Colourpin Pro It comes with a ceramic calibration tile, has reasonable repeatability.

Nix Spectro 2 It also provides reflectance data.

I found both devices suitable for the current purpose (to make it easier to navigate through paints and show similar colors)

Brands with (manufacturer) Munsell notations

Daler Rowney
Cryla
Acrylic 84 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
Williamsburg Artist Oil Colors
Oil 150 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Acryla Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 107 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Acrylic Ink
Acrylic Ink 43 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Colored Pencil
Colored Pencil 150 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Gouache
Gouache 142 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Oil Color (HOC)
Oil 169 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Soft Pastel
Soft Pastel 135 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lilly Künstlerfarben
Artist Oil Paints
Oil 55 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Acrylic Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 70 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Designers Colour
Gouache 77 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Painter's Gouache
Gouache 11 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Poster Colour
Gouache 64 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
Acryl Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 175 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
Design Gouache
Gouache 0 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
Poster Colour
Gouache 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
U-35
Acrylic 71 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane

Brands with CIE L*a*b* information

A. Gallo
Honey-Based Watercolor
Watercolor 86 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Arrtx
Miya Gouache
Gouache 18 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Artemiranda
Pure Powdered Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 7 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Arteza
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic 24 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Blockx
Aquarelles
Watercolor 72 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Blockx
Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 6 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Brevillier Urban & Sachs
Cretacolor Fine Art Pastel
Pastel Pencil 3 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Brevillier Urban & Sachs
Cretacolor Marino
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
C. Roberson & Co
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Luminance 6901
Colored Pencil 100 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Museum Aquarelle
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 76 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Neocolor II Watersoluble
Water-Soluble Pastel 85 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Neopastel
Oil Pastel 96 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Pablo
Colored Pencil 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Pastel Pencil 788
Pastel Pencil 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Caran d'Ache
Supracolor II Soft 3888
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 4 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Cheap Joe's
American Journey Artists' Watercolor
Watercolor 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Couleurs Leroux
Pigments Purs Leroux
Pigment, dry or paste 54 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Da Vinci
Permanent Artists' Gouache
Gouache 20 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Da Vinci
Watercolors
Watercolor 110 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daler Rowney
Aquafine Watercolour
Watercolor 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daler Rowney
FW Acrylic Ink
Acrylic Ink 16 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daler Rowney
Georgian Water Mixable Oil Colour
Water Mixable Oil 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daler Rowney
System3 Acrylic
Acrylic 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daniel Smith
Extra Fine Gouache
Gouache 22 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daniel Smith
Extra Fine Watercolors
Watercolor 181 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Daniel Smith
Primatek Watercolors
Watercolor 36 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Chromaflow Pencils
Colored Pencil 72 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Coloursoft Pencils
Colored Pencil 71 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Drawing Pencils
Colored Pencil 22 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Graphitint Pencils
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 24 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Inktense Pencils
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 100 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Lightfast Pencils
Colored Pencil 100 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Procolour Pencils
Colored Pencil 72 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Derwent
Watercolour Pencils
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 72 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Dr. Ph. Martin's
Hydrus Fine Art Liquid Watercolors
Liquid Watercolor 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Faber-Castell
Albrecht Dürer
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 3 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Faber-Castell
Goldfaber
Colored Pencil 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Faber-Castell
Pitt Oil Base
Colored Pencil 6 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Faber-Castell
Pitt Pastel 1122
Pastel Pencil 5 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Faber-Castell
Polychromos 9201
Colored Pencil 120 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Gamblin
Artist's Grade Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
Fluid
Acrylic 5 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
Heavy Body
Acrylic 118 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
High Flow
Acrylic 10 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
OPEN
Acrylic 5 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
QOR Watercolor
Watercolor 11 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Golden
SoFlat
Acrylic 0 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Guerra
Pigment Dispersions
Pigment, dry or paste 186 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Guerra
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 4 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Acryla Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 107 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Colored Pencil
Colored Pencil 150 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Gouache
Gouache 142 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 11 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Artists' Watercolor (HWC)
Watercolor 106 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Holbein
Duo Aqua Oil
Water Mixable Oil 6 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Honsell
JAXON Aquarell
Watercolor 44 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Honsell
Jaxon Aquarell Wax Pastell
Water-Soluble Pastel 10 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Jackson's
Artist Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 98 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kama Pigments
Aqua Dispersions
Pigment, dry or paste 25 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kama Pigments
Oil Sticks
Oil Stick 40 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Koh-I-Noor
Polycolor 3800
Colored Pencil 156 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kremer Pigmente
Watercolor
Watercolor 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kremer Pigmente
[Dry] Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 231 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kuretake
Gansai Tambi
Watercolor 57 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kusakabe
Artist's Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Kusakabe
Artists' Water Colours
Watercolor 90 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
L. Cornelissen & Son
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 85 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lascaux
Artist
Acrylic 54 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lascaux
Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 34 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lascaux
Studio
Acrylic 27 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lefranc & Bourgeois
Acrylique
Acrylic 6 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lefranc & Bourgeois
Flashe
Acrylic 6 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lefranc & Bourgeois
LINEL Extra-Fine Gouache
Gouache 44 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lefranc & Bourgeois
LINEL Extra-Fine Gouache [Pre 2020]
Gouache 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lefranc & Bourgeois
LINEL Fine Gouache [Pre 2020]
Gouache 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Liquitex
Heavy Body Acrylic
Acrylic 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Liquitex
Soft Body Acrylic
Acrylic 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lukas
Aquarell 1862
Watercolor 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lukas
Berlin Oil
Water Mixable Oil 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lukas
Cryl Pastos
Acrylic 11 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Lukas
Cryl Studio
Acrylic 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
M. Graham & Co.
Artists' Watercolor
Watercolor 56 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Maimeri
MaimeriBlu
Watercolor 90 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Maimeri
Tempera Fine
Gouache 29 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Marie's
Master Pastel
Soft Pastel 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Matsuda
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 17 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Michael Harding
Artists Oil Colours
Oil 99 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Mijello
Mission Gold Watercolor
Watercolor 124 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Mitsubishi Pencil
Mitsu-Bishi Polycolor 7500
Colored Pencil 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Mitsubishi Pencil
Mitsubishi Arterase Color (UACN)
Colored Pencil 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Mitsubishi Pencil
Mitsubishi UNI Water Color (UWCN)
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Mungyo
Gallery Aquarell Aqua Crayons (MAC series)
Water-Soluble Pastel 28 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nevskaya Palitra
White Nights
Watercolor 98 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Newell Brands
Karismacolor (Japanese)
Colored Pencil 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Newell Brands
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils
Colored Pencil 130 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Newell Brands
Prismacolor Premier Verithin Colored Pencils
Colored Pencil 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Newell Brands
Prismacolor Premier Water-Soluble Colored Pencils
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Acrylic Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 70 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Designers Colour
Gouache 77 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Nicker
Poster Colour
Gouache 64 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Ocres de France
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 16 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Old Holland
Classic Oil Colours
Oil 168 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Old Holland
Classic Watercolours
Watercolor 168 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Old Holland
New Masters
Acrylic 168 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Old Holland
Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 4 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
PanPastel
Artists' Pastel
Soft Pastel 80 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Pannoncolor
Akvarell
Watercolor 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Pannoncolor
Pigment
Pigment, dry or paste 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Pannoncolor
Tempera
Gouache 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Paul Rubens
Oil Pastel
Oil Pastel 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Prima Marketing
Art Philosophy Watercolor Confections
Watercolor 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
R&F
Encaustic
Encaustic 94 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Reeves
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Renesans
Extra Fine Watercolour
Watercolor 45 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Renesans
Gouache
Gouache 4 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Renesans
Intense Water
Watercolor 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Roman Szmal
Aquarius
Watercolor 183 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Rosa
Gallery Watercolour
Watercolor 60 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Amsterdam Expert Series
Acrylic 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Amsterdam Standard Series
Acrylic 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Bruynzeel Design Colour 8805
Colored Pencil 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Cobra Artist Oil Colours
Water Mixable Oil 4 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Gouache Extra Fine
Gouache 27 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Rembrandt Water Colour
Watercolor 120 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Royal Talens
Van Gogh Watercolour
Watercolor 60 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
AKADEMIE Acryl Color [Series 23]
Acrylic 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
AKADEMIE Aquarell [Series 16]
Watercolor 12 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
AKADEMIE Gouache [Series 22]
Gouache 9 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
Calligraphy Gouache [Series 27]
Gouache 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
Designers' Gouache (HKS) [Series 25]
Gouache 60 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
HORADAM Aquarell [Series 14]
Watercolor 184 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
HORADAM Gouache [Series 12]
Gouache 49 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
Mussini [Series 10]
Oil 108 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
Norma Blue [Series 21]
Water Mixable Oil 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
Norma [Series 11]
Oil 84 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
PRIMAcryl Fluid [Series 13]
Acrylic 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
PRIMAcryl [Series 13]
Acrylic 84 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Schmincke
Pure Artists' Pigments [Series 18]
Pigment, dry or paste 8 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Sennelier
Abstract Acrylic Inks
Acrylic Ink 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Sennelier
Dry Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 11 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Sennelier
Egg Tempera
Egg Tempera 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Sennelier
l'Aquarelle
Watercolor 54 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Shinhan
PWC
Watercolor 104 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Shinhan
Professional Designers Gouache
Gouache 41 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Silpakorn
Wichitrong Water Colour
Watercolor 24 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Stabilo
All
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 6 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Stabilo
CarbOthello 1400
Pastel Pencil 60 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Staedtler
karat aquarell 125
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Tombow
Irojiten
Colored Pencil 3 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
Acryl Gouache
Acrylic Gouache 175 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
Artists' Water Colour
Watercolor 113 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Turner
Poster Colour
Gouache 1 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Vallejo
Acrylic Artist Color
Acrylic 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Vallejo
Acrylic Studio
Acrylic 61 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Verfmolen De Kat
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Wallace Seymour
Pigments
Pigment, dry or paste 14 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Artisan Water Mixable Oil Colour
Water Mixable Oil 4 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Artists' Water Colour [Rebranded]
Watercolor 94 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Cotman Water Colour [Old]
Watercolor 29 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Cotman Water Colours
Watercolor 13 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Designers Gouache
Gouache 71 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Griffin Alkyd Fast Drying Oil Colour
Oil 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Professional Acrylic
Acrylic 80 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Professional Water Colour
Watercolor 107 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Watercolour Pencils
Water-Soluble Colored Pencil 48 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane
Winsor & Newton
Winton Oil Colour
Oil 2 CIE L*a*b* a*b* plane