: Is D50/2 or D50/10 more typically used in graphic arts? I was given some LAB measurements of color samples. The LAB measurements came with a statement that the illuminant is D50, but no specification

@Hamaas979

The standard observer in Graphic Arts (printing, proofing) is D50, observer angle 2°. However, you need to be careful here since now we have a relatively new upgrade to the standard where we now have to add the amount of OBA in the paper to the measurement - using the M1 setting of your spectrophotometer to evaluate the colour. Older spectral instruments used the M0 illuminant (basically lamp light). Refer to the ISO 12647-2-2013 standard (available at iso.org. So I suggest you find out if the person who made the measurement used M0, M1, M2 or M3. The 10° viewing angle is (I think) often used when measuring with D65, which is used in all other industries but graphics - because our business is actually that of copying = imitating the colour of a sample/original. Other industries are only interested in the actual colour of the original when exposed to daylight (D65).

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@Vandalay110

Adobe LAB mode1, ICC consortium1, 2 and printing industry use D50 white point as the standard. In fact all ICC profiles are defined in D50 and the observer is "CIE Standard 1931 colorimetric observer" or 2 degree observer.2

So yes i would say the 2 degree observer and D50 is more commonly used given that most users don't actually know what they have chosen and that is the default or in fact only one the can choose.


Plaisted, P. 2011. The Reference White in Adobe Photoshop Lab Mode
Stanndard Specification
ISO 15076-1:2010 or you can use ICC.2:2016-7 if you have trouble getting hands on the ISO standard

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