Controlling the color appearance of objects by optimizing the illumination spectrum

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel lighting system that optimizes illumination spectra to alter object colors while maintaining natural white appearance, leveraging metamerism for unique color effects demonstrated at Paris Fashion Week 2024.

Contribution

The authors introduce a method to precisely control spectral power distributions of illumination to induce metamerism, enabling dynamic color changes without affecting perceived whiteness.

Findings

Successfully demonstrated color transformation on dresses at Paris Fashion Week 2024

Achieved natural white appearance while changing object colors

Optimized illumination spectra for specific material-induced metamerism

Abstract

We have developed an innovative lighting system that changes specific target colors while keeping the lights appearing naturally white. By precisely controlling the spectral power distribution (SPD) of illumination and harnessing the unique phenomenon of metamerism, our system achieves unique color variations in ways you've never seen before. Our system calculates the optimal SPDs of illumination for given materials to intensively induce metamerism, and then synthesizes the illumination using various colors of LEDs. We successfully demonstrated the system's implementation at Paris Fashion Week 2024. As models step onto the stage, their dresses initiate a captivating transformation. Our system altering the colors of the dresses, showcasing an impressive transition from one stunning color to another.