Syntheses of spectral-distribution curves.

A method is presented for obtaining spectral distributions having colorimetric characteristics which have been pre-specified in terms of a set of tristimulus values or trichromatic coefficients. The distributions may be chosen to correspond to energy radiated from light sources, or to the transmittances or reflectances of materials acting on such energy. Tables and figures are included to facilitate a rapid solution to any given problem. Several examples are given which illustrate the method and indicate the kinds of applications possible.