Delta E color difference calculator
Compare two L*a*b* measurements and get the color difference as ΔE 2000 and ΔE*ab.
The result is only as good as the two measurements. Measure both colors with the same instrument, illuminant and observer settings.
How this works
ΔE is the distance between two colors in the CIELAB color space. ΔE*ab (CIE 1976) is the straight-line distance. ΔE 2000 (CIEDE2000) adjusts it to how the eye sees differences in lightness, chroma and hue, and is the figure print tolerances are usually agreed in. ΔL*, Δa* and Δb* show the direction: lighter or darker, redder or greener, yellower or bluer.
Common questions
Where do I get L*a*b* values?
From a spectrophotometer, by measuring the printed sheet and the target — a proof, an approved sheet or a Pantone reference. We supply Techkon spectrophotometers if you need one.
What ΔE is acceptable?
That is agreed between printer and customer for each job, usually as a maximum ΔE 2000. The smaller the number, the closer the match; 0 means identical readings.