ASTM D7195-16 - 1.7.2016
 
Significance and Use

5.1 The rejection of materials due to color is a common and expensive occurrence, and it is useful for a customer and producer to set color specifications with an associated tolerance before the transaction. This guide discusses the concept and details the ASTM standards to be used in the process.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This guide leads the user through a process for establishing color specifications, including the target color and allowable tolerances. It refers to the appropriate ASTM standards that more thoroughly describe each step of the process beginning with expectations, encompassing caveats within the process and finally concluding with reporting.

1.2 This guide does not suggest numerical values for tolerances. These values must be agreed upon by the parties involved.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

E1164-23

Standard Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for Object-Color Evaluation

E1347-06(2020)

Standard Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Measurement by Tristimulus Colorimetry

E2867-14(2023)

Standard Practice for Estimating Uncertainty of Test Results Derived from Spectrophotometry

CIE Publication 015

E1499-16(2023)

Standard Guide for Selection, Evaluation, and Training of Observers

E805-22

Standard Practice for Identification of Instrumental Methods of Color or Color-Difference Measurement of Materials

E308-22

Standard Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System

D4449-15(2021)

Standard Test Method for Visual Evaluation of Gloss Differences Between Surfaces of Similar Appearance

D4086-18(2023)

Standard Practice for Visual Evaluation of Metamerism

D3964-10(2025)

Standard Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for Appearance Measurements

D3134-15(2024)

Standard Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances

D2244-25

Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

D1729-22

Standard Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials

D523-25

Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss

E284-25

Standard Terminology of Appearance

E179-17(2022)

Standard Guide for Selection of Geometric Conditions for Measurement of Reflection and Transmission Properties of Materials

D5531-17(2023)

Standard Guide for Preparation, Maintenance, and Distribution of Physical Product Standards for Color and Geometric Appearance of Coatings

E1345-24

Standard Practice for Reducing the Effect of Variability of Color Measurement by Use of Multiple Measurements

E2214-23

Standard Practice for Specifying and Verifying the Performance of Color-Measuring Instruments

E1708-20

Standard Practice for Electronic Interchange of Color and Appearance Data (Withdrawn 2025)

E1808-96(2021)

Standard Guide for Designing and Conducting Visual Experiments