Metamerism
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The phenomenon where two colors appear identical under one lighting condition but different under another, despite having different spectral compositions.
Metamerism occurs because human color perception depends on only three types of cone cells, meaning many different spectral power distributions can produce the same perceived color. Two paint samples that match perfectly under fluorescent office light may look noticeably different under natural daylight or incandescent light. This is a significant concern in manufacturing, fashion, and interior design where materials from different sources or processes must match visually. Color scientists use spectrophotometers to measure the full spectral curve and predict metameric failure. Standardized illuminants (D50, D65, A, F2) are used to test color matches under multiple lighting conditions.
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