Predicting the lightness of chromatic object colors using CIELAB

A metric of perceive lightness of object colors, L**, is derived and evaluated. This metric, based on CIELAB parameters, is designed to predict the Helmhltz-Kohlrausch effect whereby chromatic object colors appear lighter than achromatic object of the some luminance factor. Models were fitted to published data and then tested with results from a new lightness-matching experiment that is described in this article. The L** metric predicts perceived lightness to within the interobserver variability and provides a simple, practical measure of this appearance attribute.