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Evaluation of colour differences on wood surfaces

Article  in  Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff · April 2012

DOI: 10.1007/s00107-011-0545-z

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Eur. J. Wood Prod.
DOI 10.1007/s00107-011-0545-z
B R I E F O R I G I NA L S K U R Z O R I G I NA L I A
Evaluation of colour differences on wood surfaces
Beate Buchelt · André Wagenführ
Received: 16 November 2010
© Springer-Verlag 2011
Abstract Colorimetric measurements are often carried out
for evaluation of colour changes on wooden surfaces. How-
ever, a grading of the value Eab ∗ , (colour difference) is
missing for wooden surfaces.
Colour measurements were carried out on surfaces of six
wood species. It could be shown that there is a native colour
difference within wooden surfaces which is influenced by
the texture of the wood. This native colour difference has a
magnitude of Eab ∗ of about 2.
Bewertung von Farbänderungen an Holzoberflächen
1 Introduction
Colorimetric measurements using the CIELAB system are
often carried out for the evaluation of colour changes on
wooden surfaces. The L∗ a ∗ b∗ colour system in the CIELAB
colour space (DIN 5033 2009) is a colour model which is
described by a three-dimensional coordinate system. The
a ∗ -axis is defined as the green-red axis. The b∗ -axis runs
perpendicular to this axis and represents blue and yellow.
The L∗ -axis is perpendicular to this plane and represents the
lightness. With these coordinates, every perceptible colour
in the colour space is defined. In order to determine differ-
ences between colours, the so-called colour difference ac-
cording to DIN 6174 (2007) is calculated. The aim of colour
difference measurements is to define a quantity for colour
variances that is exactly perceptually uniform. For that pur-
B. Buchelt () · A. Wagenführ
Institute of Wood and Paper Technology, Technische Universität
Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
e-mail: beate.buchelt@tu-dresden.de
∗ between two colours is cal-
pose, the colour difference Eab
culated (according to DIN 6174 2007, (1)).

∗
Eab = (L∗S − L∗R )2 + (aS∗ − aR∗ )2 + (bS∗ − bR
∗ )2 (1)
This distance is the shortest line between the colour place
of sample (S) and the colour place of the chosen reference
(R) in the colour space.
In numerous scientific studies, the value of Eab ∗ is used
to evaluate colour changes. Hiltunen et al. (2008), for ex-
ample used Eab ∗ for the evaluation of colour differences in
vacuum-dried birch boards. Oltean et al. (2008), González-
Pena and Hale (2009) and Ibach et al. (2010) applied Eab ∗
for similar purposes. Johansson and Morén (2006) used the
values of Eab∗ for the prediction of strength properties of
thermally modified wood. In general, the magnitude of the
abstract value Eab ∗ and its evaluation in connection with
wooden surfaces is sparsely mentioned. Oltean et al. (2008)
∗ corresponds to a low colour dif-
explained that a low Eab
∗ ? Bieske (2007) has worked
ference. But what is a low Eab
out a valuation of the perception of light and body colours.
Thereby, differences of light and body colours were evalu-
ated by a number of subjects of different age groups. The
evaluations presented in Table 1 are the results of this study.
The aim of the investigations is the evaluation of the
∗ for wooden surfaces, which in general are not
value Eab
homogeneous in terms of colour. A limiting value shall be
defined, which indicates when a difference in colour and
when another wood colour is sensed.
2 Materials and experimental
In order to evaluate colour differences of native wooden sur-
faces, colour measurements on veneers of different wood
species were carried out. The chosen wood species were

Table 1 Evaluation of colour differences according to Bieske (2007)
Tab. 1 Bewertung von Farbunterschieden nach Bieske (2007)
∗
Eab General evaluation
0.0 . . . 0.5 no to nearly no colour difference
0.5 . . . 1.0 difference can be perceptible for the practiced eye
1.0 . . . 2.0 observable colour difference that is barely seen
2.0 . . . 4.0 perceived colour difference that is certainly seen
4.0 . . . 5.0 significant colour difference that is seldom accepted
>5.0 the difference is evaluated as another colour
Fig. 1 Colour differences within one wood species for different
species
Abb. 1 Farbunterschiede innerhalb einer Holzart für verschiedene
Holzarten
precious woods, which are used for surfaces in high qual-
ity interior. These species were wengé (Millettia lauren-
tii De Wild.), European walnut (Juglans regia L.), makoré
(Tieghemella heckelii Pierre), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), bub-
inga (Guibortia demeusii J. Leonard) and afrormosia (Peri-
copsis elata).
The colour measurements were carried out using a spec-
trophotometer (Datacolor Elrepho) with the standard light
source D65 at an observation angle of 10°. The diameter of
the light spot was 17 mm.
For every wood species, two veneer sheets were used for
20 measurements at different places. For the calculation of
the colour difference Eab ∗ , the mean value of the respective
colour value of the sample was used as the reference value,
and with the colour values of every single measurement, the
colour differences were calculated. Consequently, a distribu-
tion of colour values within one wood species was achieved
that reflects the colour homogeneity of the surface at heart.
3 Results and discussion
Figure 1 shows the result of the colour measurements of
all samples as box plots. It is obvious that, within one
Eur. J. Wood Prod.
wood species with equal surfaces, there are colour differ-
∗ ) with a magnitude of 1 to 2. Such differences
ences (Eab
of this value are the rule for all investigated wood species
with one exception: ash. The light straight ash veneer shows
the lowest colour differences, which are hardly percepti-
ble even for a practiced eye (see Table 1). The artless tex-
ture has a comparatively homogeneous surface so that such
low colour differences occur. Colour differences on ash ve-
neer are only generated from rays of vessels (in the early-
wood), which emerge somewhat darker. All the other wood
species tend to show higher, clearly visible colour differ-
ences. Bubinga and wengé tend to demonstrate observable
colour differences corresponding to Table 1. Both species
feature a smooth straight texture, which influences the per-
ceived colour slightly. Makoré and afrormosia are also found
in the area of observable colour differences. These species
tend to show slightly higher colour differences due to their
distinct increment zones. Due to these increment zones, the
wood surface appears in various hues. This fact is reflected
in the measured colour. Walnut features higher, easily per-
ceptible colour differences, which are based on the distinctly
quilted texture.
4 Conclusion
The colour measurements show that, besides colour, the tex-
ture of a wooden surface has an important influence on its
appearance and colour. Furthermore, they show that colour
differences of Eab∗ = 1 to 2 are absolutely common and ac-
cepted. During the application of wood species with hardly
quilted or wild surfaces, they are even desired. Considering
in terms of colour homogeneous surfaces, this dimension is
counted as an observable colour difference, which is barely
perceptible.
Summarizing the results for wood surfaces, the grading
of Eab∗ as a difference that is barely perceptible, should be
considered to be greater than Eab ∗ = 2.
Acknowledgements The tests and results of this publication have
been financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and
Labour through the German Federation of Industrial Cooperative Re-
search Associations “Otto von Guericke” (AiF 15804 BR/1).
References
Bieske K (2007) Wahrnehmung von Farbunterschieden von Licht-
und Körperfarben. Tagungsband Licht und Lebensqualität 2007,
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19–20.04.2007, Lüneburg (in German)
DIN 5033 part 1–9 (2009) Colorimetry
DIN 6174 (2007) Colorimetric evaluation of colour coordinates
and colour differences according to the approximately uniform
CIELAB colour space
Eur. J. Wood Prod.
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