Common Types of Metamerism

• Illuminant Metamerism: A color match breaks down because the light source changes (e.g., car bumpers matching the body in a showroom, then looking different outside under the sun). [1, 2]

• Observer Metamerism: Two samples match for one person, but look slightly different to another person due to individual differences in human color vision. [1, 2]

• Geometric (Angle) Metamerism: A match changes depending on the angle at which you view or illuminate the object. [1]

• Field-Size Metamerism: A match fails when the size of the color field in your field of vision changes (such as looking at a tiny dot versus a large painted wall)

Geometric metamerism is common in veneered table tops. If there are 4 parts in right angles to each other, from one direction, two will look darker and two lighter, rotate 90 degrees and they can all look the same, and another 90 degrees and the dark ones now look lighter and the lighter ones darker.

How does Chatoyance factor into this?

1 hour ago, Wichman3 said:

How does Chatoyance factor into this?

I'll guess it relates to "Illuminant Metamerism: A color match breaks down because the light source changes (e.g., car bumpers matching the body in a showroom, then looking different outside under the sun)."

Chatoyancy (or chatoyance), also known as the cat's-eye effect, is an optical phenomenon where a lustrous, three-dimensional band of light appears to glide or shift across a material's surface when the object, light source, or observer moves.

What Causes Chatoyancy?

• Wood: Caused by rippled, wavy, or interlocked cellular configurations—such as in curly maple, koa, or mahogany—created by growth stress near branches and forks.

Where It Appears

• Woodworking: Highlighted in instruments (like violin backs or guitar tops) and fine furniture using oil, shellac, or amber-toned finishes to make the grain "pop".

Edited Wednesday at 05:00 PM2 days by kmealy

If you are trying to color match two pieces of wood and one has high chatoyance and the other doesn't, how would that be compensated for?

19 hours ago, Wichman3 said:

If you are trying to color match two pieces of wood and one has high chatoyance and the other doesn't, how would that be compensated for?

Keep them in a dark room? 😁

20 hours ago, Wichman3 said:

If you are trying to color match two pieces of wood and one has high chatoyance and the other doesn't, how would that be compensated for?

Polyshades. * That will kill the chatoyance 😁

I am not sure there is a way to add chatoyance to a piece that does not have it.

* Steve Mickley used to call this "the worst thing to happen to a can." I've seen some pretty awful applications of it.