A-24 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING I. C. I. SPECIFICATIONS FROM

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC CURVES
Problem
Having the spectral reflectance curve (Fig. 4-9) for a deep red surface specified
R 4/14 in Munsell notation, express its specification, when illuminated by I. C. I.
Illuminant C (average daylight), in I. C. I. co-ordinates x,
y,
and Y.
Solution by Weighted Ordinate Method*
Step 1. Tabulate as in Column I of Table A-10 the wavelengths in 0.01 -micron
steps between 0.38 and 0.76 inclusive. In column II list the corresponding spectral
reflectance (r
x
) values for R 4/14 obtained from Fig. 4-9. In Column III tabulate
the I. C. I. tristimulus computational data xP, Py, zP for Illuminant C from Table
A-ll.
Step 2. Multiply the tristimulus factors at each wavelength by the corresponding
value of r
x
and tabulate each result under xPr
x ,
yPr
x ,
and zPv
x
in column IV.
Step 3. Obtain separately the sums of the three columns xFr
x ,
yPrx, and zPr
x
.
These equal X, Y, and Z, respectively, for the R 4/14 sample as it appears when
under Illuminant C to the I. C. I. standard observer.
Step 4- Solve for x and
y
by substituting values in the equations:
X Y 2yPr
x
13,337
0.56
y
=
-
= 0.31 Y
=
-^
*
=
,' = 0.13
X + Y + Z
"
X + Y + Z XyP 100,000
The I. C. I. specification for R 4/14 is x
=
0.56, y
=
0.31, Y
=
0.13.
If it is desired to obtain the co-ordinates for a source whose xP, yP, and zP fac-
tors are not already computed, the factors may be obtained by multiplying the spec-
tral energy emitted by the source at each wavelength by the amounts of the I. C. I.
primaries required by the standard observer to match equal energy at each wave-
length. These amounts are given in Fig. 4-16. To make a more convenient table
each term is multiplied by a suitable factor so that the sum of the yP column is
100,000. When many calculations are to be made, I.B.M. machines can be used.
Solution by Selected Ordinate Method
By selecting certain ordinates (different for each illuminant), the procedure for
obtaining trichromatic coordinates can be simplified considerably:
Step 1. Tabulate under X, Y, and Z, as in Table A-12, the spectral reflectance of
#4/14 (from Table A-10) for each of the 10 (or 30) selected ordinates for Illuminant
C found in Table A-13.
Step 2. Obtain the sums of columns X, Y, and Z, respectively.
Step S. To obtain X, Y, and Z for the red sample R 4/14, multiply each sum by
the column factor, from Table A-13, for the number of ordinates used.
(
X =
0.09804 X 2.465
=
0.24
When the number of ordinates used is 10
\
Y = 0.1 X 1.318
=
0.13
I Z
=
0.11812 X 0.465
=
0.06
Step 4.
X
= 0.56
y
=
= 0.31 Reflectance
=
Y
= 0.13
X + Y + Z X + Y + Z
Same as by more tedious method above.
Mechanical integrators eliminate almost all of the numerical work of the selected
ordinate method. It is necessary that the integrator scales fit the paper on which
the curves are plotted.
It should be noted that a more irregular curve would require use of a greater num-
ber of ordinates for equal accuaracy.
*
A. C. Hardy, Handbook of Colorimetry, The Technology Press, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1936.