CIE system
Quick Summary
The CIE system, standardized in 1931 by the Commission Internationale d’Éclairage, is a tristimulus system used for color matching under specific conditions. It quantifies color using three primary colors: red, green, and blue, with results expressed as X, Y, and Z values. These tristimulus values not only define the color but also its perceived reflectance, with the Y value indicating reflectivity.1
This system allows for the determination of a color's dominant spectral wavelength, which relates to its hue. Data from the CIE system can be plotted on a chromaticity diagram using x, y, and z values, where x = X/(X + Y + Z) and y = Y/(X + Y + Z). The x and y values together represent the chromaticity, while the Y value indicates luminance or brightness.1
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