Color Solutions International

CSIColorSearch User Manual

The CSIColorSearch User Manual will provide you with a step by step guide to each of the search and display functions and tell you how to order your selected ColorWall TM shades.

Scroll down to find the function you want to review or to move directly to the function of interest by clicking on one of the listed functions below.

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Functions

Create your color
Copy your color
Browse ranges
Color co-ordinates
Lab ColorSearch
.qtx Upload
31 point input
Display selections

You can download and print this document for future reference.

When using the “Create my color”, “Copy my color”, “Browse ranges” and “Display selection” it is important that your monitor is calibrated, using the set up procedure of your CAD system or by using a specialized package.

You are encouraged to share your experience of this site by contributing your comments to the “Forum”.

Create your color

On the Welcome screen click the “Create your color” button. This will open a screen that is very familiar to frequent users of CAD systems.

The color column represents all the hues. The default setting is a neutral grey color. Click on the column to change the Hue. If the target shade is red, then click the red section of the Hue bar. If the point of the column you have clicked is not blue enough then click a little lower on the column, if the point on the column you have clicked is not yellow enough then click a little higher on the column.

The color square represents all the colors associated with that hue. For all hues the default setting is to the same neutral grey shade.

The color square is graduated to enable to create your very own color. Click on the square in the top left corner and the shade becomes lighter, click on the square in the bottom left corner and the shade becomes darker and more saturated. Making a click on the square to the right the shade becomes brighter. This technique of creating color allows you to select from all perceived colors.

The shade you have created is noted by a circle in the square and the color chip to the right of the hue column. The RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) values are provided below the color chip along with the Hexadecimal notation of the RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) values.

Below the color square the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) values and Hue Angle, Saturation and Brightness are tabulated below the color square.

If the color matches your inspiration or target color then click the “ColorSearch” button.

CSIColorSearch will find the three closest ColorWall TM shades and display them in the window as a square. The square is plotted on a color space grid and provides a visual interpretation of the relationship of the ColorWall TM shades to the color you created. The background color is the search color you created.

Within the square you will find the unique ColorWall TM shade number. It will also have a number that represents the color difference, Delta E or DE between the ColorWall TM shade and the color you created. The ColorWall TM shade number will have the 04-CW – format. The color difference equation used to calculate Delta E (DE) is CMC 2:1.

Below the color space grid is a description of the closest ColorWall TM shades. It tables the ColorWall TM reference number, the color difference and description of the difference between the color you created and the ColorWall TM shade.

You can simply interpret the color difference number or Delta E (DE). The lower the number then the closer the match will be to your search target.
For matches that are below DE 1.0 then the match will be regarded as very good

For matches that are in the range DE 1.0 – DE 2.0 then the match will be regarded as good.

For matches that are in the range DE 2.0 – DE 3.0 then the match will probably be regarded as acceptable.

You should note that the DE calculation is made as if the search color and closest ColorWall TM shade are viewed in daylight using the standard illuminant D65.

The descriptors used are:

Yellower, Redder, Bluer, Greener, Brighter, Duller, Weaker, Stronger.

Click the Select button for the colors which you like. These colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You should be aware that whilst nature provides 16.2 million perceivable colors and the “Create you color” function is able to display most of these colors on your monitor. Not all of the colors can be achieved on a textile. If you create a color and the search can not find a close match because the color is outside the textile gamut a message will appear in the color space grid stating

“Search color is outside achievable gamut”.

If you want to create another color then click the “Create your color” button and repeat the search process and create more of your favorite colors.

If you have selected colors from the “Create your color” function and want to use other functions your colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You can save, print or e-mail the results of the color search. Click of the background color and a menu bar will appear. Click on the either save, print or e-mail and follow the on screen instructions.

You can view the colors you have selected by clicking the “Display selection” button.

To purchase products from “My Palette Selections” then scroll down to review your selections. From the format drop down you can select from the options Design Sheets, Chiclets or Generic Color Standard. Please click the”Products and Price List” tab for full details.

If you have selected a shade and it has been added to “My Palette Selections” and you decide not to purchase product for this shade then type zero (0) in the quantity required box. This will automatically deselect the shade.

Select the quantity you need and then click on the “click here to check out” button.

This takes you to a screen where you can complete your order. You will be asked to provide full contact details, ship to address and make your payment by credit card. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your order. You will note that the site security is provided by Verisign.

If you are a frequent CAD user you can note the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) values or Hue Angle, Saturation and Brightness values of colors you have created in your CAD system. Insert them into the table below the color square. Click the Update button and the “Create your color” function will automatically locate your color. Click on the “ColorSearch” button to search for the three closest ColorWall TM shades.

Copy your color

To access this novel function click on the “Copy my color” button on the Welcome screen.

You will be request to upload a .jpeg or .jpg file from your computer.

The size of the file you can upload is limited to 5Mb.

The jpeg or jpg file can be an inspirational digital photograph or a scan of any colored inspiration image that is saved in .jpeg or .jpg format.

Click the Browse button to access the files on your computer.

Select the file you want to you want to upload, click the “Open” button.

Click “select a jpeg or jpg file using the browse button above then click here” instruction button
Please be patient it will take a little time to load your file.

When the file is loaded you see two images and a palette of colors on screen. The image on the left is your image. The palette is a color separation of your image. The number of colors illustrated in the palette will depend on the complexity and quality of the image. There can

be as many as 60 colors illustrated. This is a valuable source of inspiration or target colors. The image on the right is a reconstruction of your image using the colors illustrated in the palette. The closer the left and right images the better the quality of the uploaded image.

The quality of the image will be affected by many external factors. These would include, amongst others, the quality and color rendition of the camera and ambient light in which the image was taken, by the resolution of the scanner and the source of the image

Click on a target color from the palette. CSIColorSeach will automatically search for the three closest shades and display them in the window as a square. The square is plotted on a color space grid and provides a visual interpretation of the relationship of the ColorWall TM shade to color you selected. The background color is the search color you selected.

Within the square you will find the unique ColorWall TM shade number. It will also have a number that represents the color difference, Delta E or DE between the ColorWall TM shade and the color you selected. The ColorWall TM shade number will have the 04-CW – format. The color difference equation used to calculate Delta E (DE) is CMC 2:1.

You can simply interpret the color difference number or Delta E (DE). The lower the number then the closer the match will be to your search target.

For matches that are below DE 1.0 then the match will be regarded as very good

For matches that are in the range DE 1.0 – DE 2.0 then the match will be regarded as good.

For matches that are in the range DE 2.0 – DE 3.0 then the match will probably be regarded as acceptable.

You should note that the DE calculation is made as if the search color and closest ColorWall TM shade are viewed in daylight using the standard illuminant D65.

The descriptors used will be:

Yellower, Redder, Bluer, Greener, Brighter, Duller, Weaker, Stronger.

Click the Select button for the colors which you like. These colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You should be aware that whilst nature provides 16.2 million perceivable colors and the “Copy your color” function is able to display most of these colors on your monitor, not all of the colors can be achieved on a textile. If you select a color and the search can not find a close match because the color is outside the textile gamut a message will appear in the color space grid stating

“Search color is outside achievable gamut”.

If you want to select another shade from the palette then click the BACK button on your internet browser. Note: If you click the “Copy my color” button you will have upload the file again.

Click on your next selection and CSIColorSearch will then search.

You can view the colors you have selected by clicking the “Display selection” button.

To purchase products from “My Palette Selections” scroll down to review your selections. From the format drop down you can select from the options Design Sheets, Chiclets or Generic Color Standard. Please click the Products and Price List” tab for full details.

Select the quantity you need then and click on the “click here to check out” button.

This takes you the next stage; to a screen where you can complete your order. You will be asked to provide full contact details, ship to address and make your payment by credit card. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your order. You will note that the site security is provided by Verisign.

Browse ranges

A very simple way to select color is to browse shades

through the ColorWall TM until you find the color you are searching.

The browse function is divided into eleven color families.

From the dropdown tab on the Welcome screen select the color family you wish to browse. Click on the “Browse ranges” button.

All ColorWall TM shades within the selected color family will be displayed. Use the scroll bar on the right and at the bottom of the screen to scroll through the colors.

If you see a ColorWall TM shade you like then click on the shade.

CSIColorSearch will add the shade directly to “My Palette Selections”.

To browse a different color family click on the dropdown tab and select the next color family you want to browse. If you want to select a ColorWall TM shade then click on it.

You can view the colors you have selected by clicking the “Display selection” button.

If you have selected a shade and it has been added to “My Palette Selections” and you decide not to purchase product for this shade then type zero in the quantity required box. This will automatically deselect the shade.

Select the quantity you need then and click on the “click here to check out” button.

Color co-ordinates

The input of color co-ordinates will minimize any differences between color viewed on screen and physical inspiration or target colors. The input of color co-ordinates is very much a move to coloring by numbers. Color co-ordinates may seem very complicated to those who are creating or searching for color but in fact frequent users of CAD system are constantly creating color by numbers. The CAD system will, very often, provide the information you need.

Lab ColorSearch

Lab values can be obtained from either your CAD system or by measuring your inspirational target using a spectrophotometer.

Enter the L, a, and b values in the boxes provided on the CSIColorSearch Welcome page and click on “Lab ColorSearch” button.

CSIColorSearch will find the three closest ColorWall TM shades and display them in the window as a square. The square is plotted on a color space grid and provides a visual interpretation of the relationship of the ColorWall TM shade the Lab values entered. The background color is the input color.

You can simply interpret the color difference number or Delta E (DE). The lower the number then the closer the match will be to your search target.

For matches that are below DE 1.0 then the match will be regarded as very good

For matches that are in the range DE 1.0 – DE 2.0 then the match will be regarded as good.

For matches that are in the range DE 2.0 – DE 3.0 then the match will probably be regarded as acceptable.

You should note that the DE calculation is made as if the search color and closest ColorWall TM shade are viewed in daylight using the standard illuminant D65.

The descriptors used are:

Yellower, Redder, Bluer, Greener, Brighter, Duller, Weaker, Stronger.

Click the Select button for the colors which you like. These colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You should be aware that whilst nature provides 16.2 million perceivable colors and the “Lab ColorSearch” function is able to display most of these colors on your monitor, not all of the colors can be achieved on a textile. If you input a color and the search can not find a close match because the color is outside the textile gamut a message will appear in the color space grid stating

“Search color is outside achievable gamut”.

If you want to search for another color input new Lab values then click the “Lab ColorSearch” button to activate the search process.

If you have selected colors from the “Lab ColorSearch” function and want to use other functions your colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You can view the colors you have selected by clicking the “Display selection” button.

Select the quantity you need and then click on the “click here to check out” button.

.qtx Upload

Uploading a .qtx file is the most accurate and reliable way to search for color.

The .qtx file format is the most common format used for the electronic communication of spectral data for a color. The file contains reflectance data for the color and information about the procedure used to measure the reflectance data. The file can hold many colors.

The file is produced by measuring the reflectance data for a target shade using a spectrophotometer and is formatted by the associated color management software package.

The spectral data that defines the ColorWall TM shades are measured using a Datacolor SF 600 CT spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer measures the reflectance from 400 nm to 700 nm at 10 nm intervals. The settings of the spectrophotometer are Specular included and UV excluded (400 nm cut off). The large area of view (LAV) is used to expose the target shade to the Xenon light of the spectrophotometer.

To upload a .qtx file click the “.qtx upload” button on the Welcome screen. Click the browse button and select the file you want to upload and then click the Select button.

In the example the file selected contains 10 colors.

These colors will display as a
palette. Select a color by clicking on the color

CSIColorSearch will find the three closest ColorWall TM shades and display them in the window as a square. The square is plotted on a color space grid and provides a visual interpretation of the relationship of the ColorWall TM shade to the color described by the .qtx file. The background color is the search color you uploaded.

Within the square you will find the unique ColorWall TM shade number. It will also have a number that represents the color difference, Delta E or DE

between the ColorWall TM shade and the color you created. The ColorWall TM shade number will have the 04-CW – format. The color difference equation used to calculate Delta E (DE) is CMC 2:1.

You can simply interpret the color difference number or Delta E (DE). The lower the number then the closer the match will be to your search target.

For matches that are below DE 1.0 then the match will be regarded as very good

For matches that are in the range DE 1.0 – DE 2.0 then the match will be regarded as good.

For matches that are in the range DE 2.0 – DE 3.0 then the match will probably be regarded as acceptable.

You should note that the DE calculation is made as if the search color and closest ColorWall TM shade are viewed in daylight using the standard illuminant D65.

The descriptors used are:

Yellower, Redder, Bluer, Greener, Brighter, Duller, Weaker, Stronger.

Click the Select button for the colors which you like. These colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

If you want to search for another color held in the uploaded file then click the BACK button of your internet browser. Click on the second color selected and CSIColorSeach search will be activated.

If you have selected colors from the “.qtx upload” function and want to use other functions your colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You can view the colors you have selected by clicking the “Display selection” button.

Select the quantity you need and then click on the “click here to check out” button.

31 Point Input

Spectral data for colors is sometimes communicated in a numerical format. The reflectance data is provided at 10 nm intervals from 400 nm to 700 nm in a table. In addition to the spectral data a checksum value is often provided. This number is the summation of all the reflection values and can be used to check the accuracy of the numbers you input.

If you have spectral data in this format click the “31 point input” button on the Welcome screen and then simply type in the numbers into the appropriate box i.e. the reflectance value for 400nm in box labeled 400nm. Tab across and type in the reflectance value for 410 nm until all the reflectance values have been entered in all the boxes. The checksum box will automatically populate. Check the accuracy of your input and then click the “Submit” button.

CSIcolorseach will search for the three closest ColorWall TM shades and display them in the window as a square. The square is plotted on a color space grid and provides a visual interpretation of the relationship of the ColorWall TM shade to color defined by the spectral data. The background color is the search color.

You can simply interpret the color difference number or Delta E (DE). The lower the number then the closer the match will be to your search target.

For matches that are below DE 1.0 then the match will be regarded as very good

For matches that are in the range DE 1.0 – DE 2.0 then the match will be regarded as good.

For matches that are in the range DE 2.0 – DE 3.0 then the match will probably be regarded as acceptable.

You should note that the DE calculation is made as if the search color and closest ColorWall TM shade are viewed in daylight using the standard illuminant D65.

The descriptors used will be:

Yellower, Redder, Bluer, Greener, Brighter, Duller, Weaker, Stronger.

Click the Select button for the colors which you like. These colors will be stored in “My Palette Selections” until you leave the site.

You can view the colors you have selected by clicking the “Display selection” button.

Select the quantity you need then and click on the “click here to check out” button.

Display selections

The ColorWall TM shades that you select are added to “My Palette Selections”. The colors will be in the order that you selected them. The ColorWall TM shade number of the shade selected is illustrated in the box. The fill color is shade you have selected. When multiple selections have been made you can review the palette.

From the format drop down you can select from the options Design Sheets, Chiclets or Generic Color Standard. Please click the “Products and Price List” tab for full details.

This takes you the next stage; to a screen where you can complete your order. You will be asked to provide full contact details, ship to address and make you payment by credit card. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your order. You will note that the site security is provided by Verisign.

Alternatively you can click the “Display selection” button. All the colors in the in My Palette Selections will be displayed in color space over a grey background for you to review.

Please be patient it takes a few moments for the co-ordinates of the colors in “My Palette Selections” to load

To return to My Palette Selections close the Display Selections window.