4-14 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

A difference of one microreciprocal degree

CT
X 10
5
=
1 mired (pro-
nounced my-red) , indicates approximately the same color difference
anywhere on the color temperature scale above 1,800 K; whereas 1 mired
is derived from a difference that varies in color temperature from about
4 degrees at 1,800 K, 25 degrees at 5,000 K, 46 degrees at 6,700 K, to 100
degrees at 10,000 K.
Color temperature is a specification of chromaticity only, and has nothing
to do with the energy distribution of an illuminant. The chromaticities of
many "daylight" lamps plot very close to the Planckian locus, as shown in
Fig. 4-7. Their color may be specified in terms of nearest color temperature.
However, this specification gives no information about their spectral energy
distribution and must be used cautiously. (See Fig. 4-10.)
Correlation between Methods of Color Designation and Specification
The various forms of color designation and specification are frequently
encountered under circumstances which require or make desirable the
conversion of the notation or specification for a color from one system to
another, just as dimensions in feet are often converted to dimensions in
meters.
19
I.C.I, co-ordinates to or from dominant wavelength and purity. Plot the
spectrum locus on an x

y
diagram and plot the location of the illuminant
as in Fig. 4-6. Draw straight lines from the illuminant point to the spec-
trum locus at regular intervals (0.001, 0.01, or 0.1 micron). All colors
whose x

y
co-ordinates fall on one of these lines have the dominant
wavelength indicated by the intersection of the line with the spectrum locus.
Their purity is determined by dividing their distance from the illuminant
point by the distance along the same line from the illuminant point to the
spectum locus. One hundred per cent purity is at the spectrum locus;
colors of 50 per cent purity fall halfway between the illuminant point and
the spectrum locus, per cent purity is at the illuminant. Reflectance
equals the Y value of the I.C.I, co-ordinates, and may be obtained by
heterochromatic photometry.
Any (x

y)
specification is accurate only for the illuminant for which
it is calculated. The dominant wavelength and purity corresponding to
any x

y
specification also depend on the illumination. For example,
x
=
0.41, y
=
0.40 is a bluedominant wavelength approximately 0.492
micron and purity 10 per cent when referred to illuminant A; but the same
(x

y)
point when referred to illuminant C is a yellowdominant wave-
length 0.590 micron and purity 50 per cent.
I.C.I, co-ordinates to or from
Munsell notation. A complete set of charts
of the type shown in Fig. 4-8 has been prepared by a subcommittee of the
Colorimetry Committee of the Optical Society of America. Instructions
for converting from I.C.I, to Munsell notation and vice versa are included.
20