Computation and visualization of the MacAdam limits for any lightness, hue angle, and light source

We present a systematic algorithm capable of searching for optimal colors for any lightness L* (between 0 and 100), any illuminant (D65, F2, F7, F11, etc.), and any light source reported by CIE. Color solids are graphed in some color spaces (CIELAB, SVF, DIN99d, and CIECAM02) by horizontal (constant lightness) and transversal (constant hue angle) sections. Color solids plotted in DIN99d and CIECAM02 color spaces look more spherical or homogeneous than the ones plotted in CIELAB and SVF color spaces. Depending on the spectrum of the light source or illuminant, the shape of its color solid and its content (variety of distinguishable colors, with or without color correspondence) change drastically, particularly with sources whose spectrum is discontinuous and/or very peaked, with correlated color temperature lower than 5500 K. This could be used to propose an absolute colorimetric quality index for light sources comparing the volumes of their gamuts, in a uniform color space.This research was supported by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain, under grant DPI2005-08999-C02-02, and by the Conselleria d’Empresa, Universitat i Ciència of the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, under grant IIARC0/2004/59