may be separated according to nearly imperceptible color differences into
a number of "standard" grades each of which may have a different market value. It is frequently necessary to obtain a "commercial match" between physical samples (supplied for purposes of specification) and production samples (selected for purposes of production quality control). The test procedures under the specifications should be so defined that experi- enced persons consistently and independently assign the same grades and make the same matches. o < c / D A AND B 1.40 0.50 060 0.70 WAVELENGTH IN MICRONS FIG. 4-10. Spectral reflectance and transmittance curves reveal slight dif- ferences between samples which may not be detected by visual observation under ordinary light sources. To a normal observer, samples A and B seem to match as do C and D, when viewed under incandescent lamps; C and D are pink but of higher value (luminous reflectance) than A and B. While the spectral reflectance curves prove the physical similarity of A and B, they reveal a difference between C and D. A and B will match under any conditions, but C and D will not match if the illumination contains a high percentage of blue energy in the region 0.4-0.5 micron. Color control in a lighting installation. The artist, architect, and illum- inating engineer, after agreeing on a design having suitable decorative qualities and which at the same time will provide the proper quantity and quality of illumination, have the problem of transferring their plans to the room in question. This must be done by specifying to the contractor and builder, as well as to the furniture, wall covering, drapery, and paint manu- facturers, what materials will be acceptable from a color standpoint. The fundamental problem is similar to that worked out by the retail packaging experts. Color control in production. There are many reasons for requiring ac- curacy and precision in the control of the color of surface coatings, such as printing inks and industrial finishes. Perhaps the most important reason concerns the demands made by the buyers of retail consumer goods, and the quality significance they attach to the color of articles. The use of color control usually has three objectives. The first objective is that a satisfactory match for the desired color should be obtained with the type of coating formulation which will be used in production. The second objective is that the standard color achieved as a result of the first should be maintained during the first mass production of the material. The third objective requires that subsequent mass productions of the ma- terial have the same color as the first mass production. For those articles which are in almost continuous mass production, such as cigarette contain- ers where the production for a single brand may be several million packages