Colorfulness

<h2 id="chroma">Chroma</h2>
See also: <a href="/facts/Psychophysics/yDPmvvGf">Psychophysics</a>
The naïve definition of saturation does not specify its response function. In the CIE XYZ and RGB color spaces, the saturation is defined in terms of additive color mixing, and has the property of being proportional to any scaling centered at white or the white point illuminant. However, both color spaces are non-linear in terms of psychovisually perceived <a href="/facts/Color_difference/WhQyyzQ9">color differences</a>. It is also possible — and sometimes desirable — to define a saturation-like quantity that is linearized in term of the psychovisual perception.
In the <a href="/facts/CIELAB_color_space/jxx4j975">CIE 1976 LAB and LUV color spaces</a>, the unnormalized chroma is the radial component of the cylindrical coordinate <a href="/facts/HCL_color_space/kYKGf7wx">CIE LCh</a> (lightness, chroma, hue) representation of the LAB and LUV color spaces, also denoted as CIE LCh(ab) or CIE LCh for short, and CIE LCh(uv). The transformation of 
 
 
 
 (
 a
 ,
 b
 )
 
 
 {\displaystyle (a,b)}
 
 to 
 
 
 
 
 (
 
 
 C
 
 a
 b
 
 
 ,
 
 h
 
 a
 b
 
 
 
 )
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle \left(C_{ab},h_{ab}\right)}
 
 is given by:

C
          
            a
            b
          
          
            ∗
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              a
              
                ∗
                2
              
            
            +
            
              b
              
                ∗
                2
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle C_{ab}^{*}={\sqrt {a^{*2}+b^{*2}}}}

h
          
            a
            b
          
        
        =
        atan2
        ⁡
        
          (
          
            
              
                b
                
                  ⋆
                
              
            
            ,
            
              
                a
                
                  ⋆
                
              
            
          
          )
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle h_{ab}=\operatorname {atan2} \left({b^{\star }},{a^{\star }}\right)}

and analogously for CIE LCh(uv).
The chroma in the CIE LCh(ab) and CIE LCh(uv) coordinates has the advantage of being more psychovisually linear, yet they are non-linear in terms of linear component color mixing. And therefore, chroma in CIE 1976 Lab and LUV color spaces is very much different from the traditional sense of "saturation".

<h3>In color appearance models</h3>
Another, psychovisually even more accurate, but also more complex method to obtain or specify the saturation is to use a <a href="/facts/Color_appearance_model/AFlaBhdR">color appearance model</a> like CIECAM02. Here, the chroma color appearance parameter might (depending on the color appearance model) be intertwined with e.g. the physical brightness of the illumination or the characteristics of the emitting/reflecting surface, which is more sensible psychovisually.
The CIECAM02 chroma 
 
 
 
 C
 ,
 
 
 {\displaystyle C,}
 
 for example, is computed from a lightness 
 
 
 
 J
 
 
 {\displaystyle J}
 
 in addition to a naively evaluated color magnitude 
 
 
 
 t
 .
 
 
 {\displaystyle t.}
 
 In addition, a colorfulness 
 
 
 
 M
 
 
 {\displaystyle M}
 
 parameter exists alongside the chroma 
 
 
 
 C
 .
 
 
 {\displaystyle C.}
 
 It is defined as 
 
 
 
 M
 =
 C
 
 F
 
 B
 
 
 0.25
 
 
 ,
 
 
 {\displaystyle M=CF_{B}^{0.25},}
 
 where 
 
 
 
 
 F
 
 L
 
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle F_{L}}
 
 is dependent on the viewing condition.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>

<h2 id="saturation">Saturation</h2>
The saturation of a color is determined by a combination of light intensity and how much it is distributed across the spectrum of different wavelengths. The purest (most saturated) color is achieved by using just one wavelength at a high intensity, such as in laser light. If the intensity drops, then as a result the saturation drops. To desaturate a color of given intensity in a <a href="/facts/Subtractive_color/lY5JqRgT">subtractive</a> system (such as <a href="/facts/Watercolor/l0DejAVg">watercolor</a>), one can add white, black, <a href="/facts/Grey/wGvycLY0">gray</a>, or the hue's <a href="/facts/Complementary_color/XDAx27pR">complement</a>.
Various correlates of saturation follow.

<h3>CIELUV and CIELAB</h3>
In <a href="/facts/CIELUV/E8eGBnBS">CIELUV</a>, saturation is equal to the chroma normalized by the lightness:

s
          
            u
            v
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              C
              
                u
                v
              
              
                ∗
              
            
            
              L
              
                ∗
              
            
          
        
        =
        13
        
          
            (
            
              u
              ′
            
            −
            
              u
              
                n
              
              ′
            
            
              )
              
                2
              
            
            +
            (
            
              v
              ′
            
            −
            
              v
              
                n
              
              ′
            
            
              )
              
                2
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle s_{uv}={\frac {C_{uv}^{*}}{L^{*}}}=13{\sqrt {(u'-u'_{n})^{2}+(v'-v'_{n})^{2}}}}

where 
 
 
 
 
 (
 
 
 u
 
 n
 
 
 ,
 
 v
 
 n
 
 
 
 )
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle \left(u_{n},v_{n}\right)}
 
 is the chromaticity of the white point, and chroma is defined below.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>
By analogy, in <a href="/facts/CIELAB/jxx4j975">CIELAB</a> this would yield:

s
          
            a
            b
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              C
              
                a
                b
              
              
                ∗
              
            
            
              L
              
                ∗
              
            
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    a
                    
                      ∗
                    
                  
                
                
                  2
                
              
              +
              
                
                  
                    b
                    
                      ∗
                    
                  
                
                
                  2
                
              
            
            
              L
              
                ∗
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle s_{ab}={\frac {C_{ab}^{*}}{L^{*}}}={\frac {\sqrt {{a^{*}}^{2}+{b^{*}}^{2}}}{L^{*}}}}

The CIE has not formally recommended this equation since CIELAB has no chromaticity diagram, and this definition therefore lacks direct connection with older concepts of saturation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> Nevertheless, this equation provides a reasonable predictor of saturation, and demonstrates that adjusting the lightness in CIELAB while holding (a*, b*) fixed does affect the saturation.
But the following verbal definition of Manfred Richter and the corresponding formula proposed by Eva Lübbe are in agreement with the human perception of saturation:
Saturation is the proportion of pure chromatic color in the total color sensation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>

S
          
            a
            b
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              C
              
                a
                b
              
              
                ∗
              
            
            
              
                
                  
                    C
                    
                      a
                      b
                    
                    
                      ∗
                    
                  
                
                
                  2
                
              
              +
              
                
                  
                    L
                    
                      ∗
                    
                  
                
                
                  2
                
              
            
          
        
        100
        %
      
    
    {\displaystyle S_{ab}={\frac {C_{ab}^{*}}{\sqrt {{C_{ab}^{*}}^{2}+{L^{*}}^{2}}}}100\%}

where 
 
 
 
 
 S
 
 a
 b
 
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle S_{ab}}
 
 is the saturation, 
 
 
 
 
 L
 
 ∗
 
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle L^{*}}
 
 the lightness and 
 
 
 
 
 C
 
 a
 b
 
 
 ∗
 
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle C_{ab}^{*}}
 
 is the chroma of the color.

<h3>CIECAM02</h3>
In <a href="/facts/CIECAM02/sT38xh4m">CIECAM02</a>, saturation equals the square root of the colorfulness divided by the brightness:

s
        =
        
          
            
              M
              Q
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle s={\sqrt {\frac {M}{Q}}}}

This definition is inspired by experimental work done with the intention of remedying <a href="/facts/CIECAM97s/AFlaBhdR">CIECAM97s</a>'s poor performance.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> 
 
 
 
 M
 
 
 {\displaystyle M}
 
 is proportional to the chroma 
 
 
 
 C
 ,
 
 
 {\displaystyle C,}
 
 thus the CIECAM02 definition bears some similarity to the CIELUV definition.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a>

<h3>HSL and HSV</h3>
Saturation is also one of three coordinates in the <a href="/facts/HSL_and_HSV/opaXI7FM">HSL and HSV</a> <a href="/facts/Color_space/zFvEyfHv">color spaces</a>. However, in the HSL color space saturation exists independently of lightness. That is, both a very light color and a very dark color can be heavily saturated in HSL; whereas in the previous definitions—as well as in the HSV color space—colors approaching white all feature low saturation.

<h2 id="excitation-purity">Excitation purity</h2>

The excitation purity (purity for short) of a stimulus is the difference from the illuminant's <a href="/facts/White_point/MP9M3NmB">white point</a> to the furthest point on the chromaticity diagram with the same <a href="/facts/Dominant_wavelength/R06y0zwf">dominant wavelength</a>; using the <a href="/facts/CIE_1931_color_space/fzgwzV8V">CIE 1931 color space</a>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a>

p
          
            e
          
        
        =
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    (
                    
                      x
                      −
                      
                        x
                        
                          n
                        
                      
                    
                    )
                  
                  
                    2
                  
                
                +
                
                  
                    (
                    
                      y
                      −
                      
                        y
                        
                          n
                        
                      
                    
                    )
                  
                  
                    2
                  
                
              
              
                
                  
                    (
                    
                      
                        x
                        
                          I
                        
                      
                      −
                      
                        x
                        
                          n
                        
                      
                    
                    )
                  
                  
                    2
                  
                
                +
                
                  
                    (
                    
                      
                        y
                        
                          I
                        
                      
                      −
                      
                        y
                        
                          n
                        
                      
                    
                    )
                  
                  
                    2
                  
                
              
            
          
        
      
    
    {\displaystyle p_{e}={\sqrt {\frac {\left(x-x_{n}\right)^{2}+\left(y-y_{n}\right)^{2}}{\left(x_{I}-x_{n}\right)^{2}+\left(y_{I}-y_{n}\right)^{2}}}}}

where 
 
 
 
 
 (
 
 
 x
 
 n
 
 
 ,
 
 y
 
 n
 
 
 
 )
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle \left(x_{n},y_{n}\right)}
 
 is the chromaticity of the white point and 
 
 
 
 
 (
 
 
 x
 
 I
 
 
 ,
 
 y
 
 I
 
 
 
 )
 
 
 
 {\displaystyle \left(x_{I},y_{I}\right)}
 
 is the point on the perimeter whose line segment to the white point contains the chromaticity of the stimulus. Different color spaces, such as CIELAB or CIELUV may be used, and will yield different results.

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"colourfulness | eilv". eilv. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017. <a href="http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/233" target="_blank">http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/233</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Fairchild, Mark (2013). Color Appearance Models. John Wiley & Sons., page 87. <a href="/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons" target="_blank">/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"CIE e-ILV 17-139". Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. <a href="http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/139" target="_blank">http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/139</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Fairchild, Mark (2013). Color Appearance Models. John Wiley & Sons., page 87. <a href="/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons" target="_blank">/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"CIE e-ILV 17-831". Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. <a href="http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/831" target="_blank">http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/831</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"The Dimensions of Colour". www.huevaluechroma.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017. <a href="http://www.huevaluechroma.com/015.php" target="_blank">http://www.huevaluechroma.com/015.php</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"CIE e-ILV 17-1136". Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. <a href="http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/1136" target="_blank">http://eilv.cie.co.at/term/1136</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Fairchild, Mark (2013). Color Appearance Models. John Wiley & Sons., page 87. <a href="/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons" target="_blank">/wiki/John_Wiley_%26_Sons</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"The Dimensions of Colour". www.huevaluechroma.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017. <a href="http://www.huevaluechroma.com/017.php" target="_blank">http://www.huevaluechroma.com/017.php</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"The Dimensions of Colour". www.huevaluechroma.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017. <a href="http://www.huevaluechroma.com/017.php" target="_blank">http://www.huevaluechroma.com/017.php</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Moroney, Nathan; Fairchild, Mark D.; Hunt, Robert W.G.; Li, Changjun; Luo, M. Ronnier; Newman, Todd (November 12, 2002). IS&T/SID Tenth Color Imaging Conference (PDF). The CIECAM02 Color Appearance Model. Scottsdale, Arizona: The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. ISBN 0-89208-241-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2011. <a href="0-89208-241-0" target="_blank">0-89208-241-0</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Schanda, János (2007). Colorimetry: Understanding the CIE System. Wiley Interscience. ISBN 978-0-470-04904-4. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017., page 88. <a href="978-0-470-04904-4" target="_blank">978-0-470-04904-4</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Hunt, Robert William Gainer (1993). Leslie D. Stroebel, Richard D. Zakia (ed.). The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography. Focal Press. p. 124. ISBN 0-240-51417-3. <a href="0-240-51417-3" target="_blank">0-240-51417-3</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Lübbe, Eva (2010). Colours in the Mind - Colour Systems in Reality- A formula for colour saturation. [Book on Demand]. ISBN 978-3-7881-4057-1. <a href="978-3-7881-4057-1" target="_blank">978-3-7881-4057-1</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Moroney, Nathan; Fairchild, Mark D.; Hunt, Robert W.G.; Li, Changjun; Luo, M. Ronnier; Newman, Todd (November 12, 2002). IS&T/SID Tenth Color Imaging Conference (PDF). The CIECAM02 Color Appearance Model. Scottsdale, Arizona: The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. ISBN 0-89208-241-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2011. <a href="0-89208-241-0" target="_blank">0-89208-241-0</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Juan, Lu-Yin G.; Luo, Ming R. (June 2002). Robert Chung; Allan Rodrigues (eds.). Magnitude estimation for scaling saturation. 9th Congress of the International Colour Association. Proceedings of SPIE. Vol. 4421. pp. 575–578. doi:10.1117/12.464511. <a href="http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PSISDG004421000001000575000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes" target="_blank">http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PSISDG004421000001000575000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Moroney, Nathan; Fairchild, Mark D.; Hunt, Robert W.G.; Li, Changjun; Luo, M. Ronnier; Newman, Todd (November 12, 2002). IS&T/SID Tenth Color Imaging Conference (PDF). The CIECAM02 Color Appearance Model. Scottsdale, Arizona: The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. ISBN 0-89208-241-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2011. <a href="0-89208-241-0" target="_blank">0-89208-241-0</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Stroebel, Leslie D.; Zakia, Richard D. (1993). The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography (3E ed.). Focal Press. p. 121. ISBN 0-240-51417-3. excitation purity. <a href="0-240-51417-3" target="_blank">0-240-51417-3</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Colorfulness open-in-new

Colorfulness