Communicating and Measuring Colour

Colour is essential in nearly every manufactured product, from textiles to cosmetics.

Professional Academy for Creative Enterprise (PACE) onsite courses offer a range of in-person teaching and learning experiences at our University of Leeds campus. 

Accurate colour measurement and effective communication are critical to avoid costly errors. This hands-on course equips you with the skills and techniques to confidently measure, manage, and communicate colour. Ideal for professionals in colour-critical industries who want to ensure consistency from design to delivery. 

What Will You Learn?  

  • How humans perceive colour and the science behind colour vision, perception and how we interpret colour in different contexts.  

  • How to navigate and apply international standardised colour systems, including Pantone, NCS, and RAL, to ensure consistency across products and supply chains.  

  • The limitations and challenges in colour communication, such as lighting variations, device inconsistencies and strategies to overcome them.  

  • The fundamental principles of colour measurement, including the CIE system of colourimetry, spectral data, colour-matching functions and chromatic diagrams. 

  • How to apply colour measurement techniques using spectrophotometers and image-based systems to obtain and interpret colour data.  

  • Reflect colour differences using established formulas and make informed pass/fail decisions in industrial applications. 

  • Apply colour difference formulas (ΔE) to industrial scenarios, making informed pass/fail decisions based on quantified colour tolerances using software like Excel or MATLAB. 

  • Key colour concepts, including hue, lightness, and chroma, and how to apply them practically through hands-on exercises. 

Learn more about the course and enrol here.