We create a DIN specification

DIN headquarters in Berlin-Tiergarten

freieFarbe e.V. and several members of the association took part in the DIN Connect competition. We are among the winners. As the winner, we have received a research and development contract from the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN) for the creation of the DIN specification (DIN SPEC) "Open Colour Communication". The project is scheduled for 1 year in several sub-steps and is financially supported by DIN.

What is a DIN SPEC?

The DIN SPEC is, in a way, the little brother of the DIN standard. DIN writes: "The DIN SPEC is a highly effective marketing tool which, thanks to the recognised DIN brand, ensures great acceptance among customers and partners. DIN ensures that the DIN SPEC does not collide with existing standards and publishes the standards, also internationally. A DIN SPEC can be the basis for a DIN standard." More details can be found on the DIN website.

Why does this development make so much sense?

We want to show that with open tools and processes as well as Creative Commons licences, especially the CIELAB standard, ICC-based colour management and ISO standards for spectral data, colour communication on a professional level is possible.

The project is financially supported by DIN, for which we are grateful. The worldwide reputation of the German Institute for Standardisation, the approach of "rationalisation through standardisation", the non-profit status of DIN - all these are reasons for further joy. The subsequent publication of the specification by DIN is the chance for the idea of "freieFarbe" to spread far and wide.

What happens first?

At the moment we are creating in cooperation with the association member Proof GmbH a colour atlas showing the free CIELAB colour space on 36 individual pages in high-end inkjet printing with 12 colours as well as an online version for approx. 2000 sample colour shades.
The colour space (gamut) shown includes not only the typical CMYK colours of offset printing but also special colours for various printing processes, inks and varnishes or plastics.

Spectral data for the HLC colour atlas

Another important step is the measurement and publication of 10nm spectral data of the colour samples published in the atlas. This will enable paint manufacturers to produce the colour shades in their production using formulation software. The spectral data will be made available to the public in the ISO standard CxF. The Creative Commons licence allows free use in both free and commercial software.

Vision for the future

Ultimately, it is conceivable (and the goal) that the free HLC colours can be freely varied and usefully supplemented by means of software that displays them exactly, and that the corresponding colour shades are immediately available by varnish, on textiles, as powder coating, foil, façade paint, etc. That every colour, including every intermediate colour, will be available online, in paint shops, DIY shops, etc.

Our standardisation via ICC colour management, CIE-HLC and spectral data should pave this way.

Update November 2018: Here you can download the meanwhile published Order DIN SPEC 16699 and download it free of charge.

2 comments
  1. The RAL colour atlas has already been on the market worldwide for many years after CIELAB-LCH with applications in colourimetry, design, printing and layout.
    What is the advantage of the new approach?
    A sensible colourimetric connection to RGB colour values is important.
    For this purpose, the Relative Elementary Colour System RECS consisting of:
    - the analogue colour atlas RECS_a with real colour samples
    (approx. 2000 standard offset colour samples in the CIELAB LCH system, also spectral, with RBG colour values)
    - the RECS_d digital colour atlas in PDF and PS (PostScript) file formats.

    1. Dear Professor Richter,
       
      Thank you very much for your comment, which we would like to answer briefly:
       
      The RAL design colours correspond only approximately to CIELAB-LCH. An arbitrarily chosen example: for RAL 70 50 30 a Lab of 48.64, 11.5, 29.59 is given (RAL software), but according to standard conversion for CIE-HLC 70 50 30 Lab = 50 10.2 28.19 would be correct. It is a deviation of DeltaE76= 2,31 (!), thus a clear difference. The areas of application of the RAL system mentioned by you also only exist in part, RAL printing inks are not known to us, for example.
       
      Another difference and even greater advantage of our atlas is its free usability. We do not prevent duplication, but wish to see it distributed as freely and free of charge as possible. The underlying model can be computed by anyone, the atlas can be freely calculated, e.g. internally for intermediate colours, gradations and counter colours as well as externally for colour system comparisons and RGB/CMYK colour values. Thirdly, we also publish spectral data of all colours, with which all colour tones can be recalculated. No other system offers these advantages.
       
      The colourimetric connection to RGB we have carried out via the standard conversion and ICC profiles, which is built into numerous softwares. Currently, we prefer sRGB because of its high prevalence, but any other RGB can be calculated as well.
       
      We are convinced that the concept will automatically open up many areas of application due to its advantages.
       
      Thank you for pointing out the Relative Elementary Colour System RECS. We were not aware of this until now. Unfortunately, we cannot find the colour atlas RECS_a and RECS_d mentioned by you, please let us know a link. We would be happy to add this system to our list of links.
       
      We welcome suggestions of all kinds, including criticism!
       
      Many greetings, your freieFarbe team
       
      Holger Everding

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