# Delta Finder

This tutorial explains how to compare two colors.  
For example a measured color and a Pantone value from a digital color chart.

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<p class="callout info"><span class="text-4505230f--TextH400-3033861f--textContentFamily-49a318e1"><span data-key="38f81e43d78b4e6d9b17acc818226f9e">The Delta E makes it possible to quantify the difference between two colors.  
But if you want to know more about what Delta E is, we encourage you to check out the Wikipedia article:  
</span></span><span class="text-4505230f--TextH400-3033861f--textContentFamily-49a318e1">[<span data-key="62de5c6773dc43e890cff189764970ee">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color\_difference</span>](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_difference)<span data-key="dd3879bdef6240fe83f8cf0414b98d2e"> (English version is more complete)</span></span></p>

[![image-1628610591804.png](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/scaled-1680-/image-1628610591804.png)](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/image-1628610591804.png)

<span class="text-4505230f--TextH400-3033861f--textContentFamily-49a318e1"><span data-key="2d627a1a0f8749d2beb2bca50d9dd4bc">If a Delta E number is less than 1 between two colors that are not touching, it is barely noticeable by the average human observer.  
A Delta E between 3 and 6 is generally considered an acceptable number in commercial reproduction, but the difference in color can be seen by printing and graphics professionals.  
  
</span></span>The Delta E Finder module is able to compare two types of files:  
.spc: A color measured with a spectrophotometer. The file contains the measured spectral values.

<div id="bkmrk-in-this-tutorial%2C-we"><div>In this tutorial, we are going to compare a sample measured on a "Fan" type paper Pantonier, with the Lab value of this same Pantone, but coming from a PANTONE digital color chart.</div></div><div id="bkmrk--1"></div>---

#### <span data-slate-fragment="JTdCJTIyb2JqZWN0JTIyJTNBJTIyZG9jdW1lbnQlMjIlMkMlMjJkYXRhJTIyJTNBJTdCJTdEJTJDJTIybm9kZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJibG9jayUyMiUyQyUyMnR5cGUlMjIlM0ElMjJoZWFkaW5nLTIlMjIlMkMlMjJpc1ZvaWQlMjIlM0FmYWxzZSUyQyUyMmRhdGElMjIlM0ElN0IlN0QlMkMlMjJub2RlcyUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMm9iamVjdCUyMiUzQSUyMnRleHQlMjIlMkMlMjJsZWF2ZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJsZWFmJTIyJTJDJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkxpcmUlMjB1biUyMCVDMyVBOWNoYW50aWxsb24lMjBQQU5UT05FJUMyJUFFJTIwYXZlYyUyMHZvdHJlJTIwc3BlY3Ryb3Bob3RvbSVDMyVBOHRyZSUyMiUyQyUyMm1hcmtzJTIyJTNBJTVCJTVEJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVEJTdE">Read a PANTONE® sample with your spectrophotometer</span>

<p class="callout warning"><span data-slate-fragment="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">In this example we will be using a PANTONE® color from a color table.  
To use this PANTONE® color table you must have an appropriate license.</span></p>

<p class="callout info"><span data-slate-fragment="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">The best way to get it is to buy a [**Formula Guide**](https://store.pantone.com/fr/fr/formula-guide.html) from PANTONE®. Each purchase of Formula guide gives you access to a code to download its digital version from the PANTONE® COLOR MANAGER software.</span></p>

<p class="callout success"><span data-slate-fragment="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">For more information, see chapter: [Capture of a Color](https://wiki.coraye.com/books/coraye-manual-en/page/capture-a-color "Capture a color")</span></p>

[![image-1628612792841.jpeg](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/scaled-1680-/image-1628612792841.jpeg)](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/image-1628612792841.jpeg)

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#### <span data-slate-fragment="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">Import PANTONE C digital color chart</span>

<span data-slate-fragment="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">To import a color table, you just have to drag it into the files column on the left.</span>

<p class="callout success"><span data-slate-fragment="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">For more information, see chapter: [Color table](https://wiki.coraye.com/books/coraye-manual-en/page/color-table "Color table")</span></p>

[![image-1628612890215.png](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/scaled-1680-/image-1628612890215.png)](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/image-1628612890215.png)

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#### <span data-slate-fragment="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">Import a selected color from a table to the files column</span>

<span data-slate-fragment="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">In your PANTONE® table, indicate in the search bar, the reference of the chosen color, then drag the color in the column of files on the left.</span>

[![image-1628612931209.png](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/scaled-1680-/image-1628612931209.png)](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/image-1628612931209.png)

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#### <span data-slate-fragment="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">How to get the Delta E between two colors?</span>

<span class="text-4505230f--TextH400-3033861f--textContentFamily-49a318e1"><span data-key="ed3db7ae297641cfb1bcec411806458e">The last step is to select one of the two colors, open the Delta Finder module and then drag the second color into the "Color" field of " **Delta Finder** ".</span></span>

The Delta E value will be displayed just below.  
In our example the Delta E00 between the reference value of the PANTONE 7726 C and the value of the measured sample is 1.4

[![image-1628613007497.png](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/scaled-1680-/image-1628613007497.png)](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/image-1628613007497.png)

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#### <span data-slate-fragment="JTdCJTIyb2JqZWN0JTIyJTNBJTIyZG9jdW1lbnQlMjIlMkMlMjJkYXRhJTIyJTNBJTdCJTdEJTJDJTIybm9kZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJibG9jayUyMiUyQyUyMnR5cGUlMjIlM0ElMjJoZWFkaW5nLTIlMjIlMkMlMjJpc1ZvaWQlMjIlM0FmYWxzZSUyQyUyMmRhdGElMjIlM0ElN0IlN0QlMkMlMjJub2RlcyUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMm9iamVjdCUyMiUzQSUyMnRleHQlMjIlMkMlMjJsZWF2ZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJsZWFmJTIyJTJDJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkNob2l4JTIwZHUlMjBtb2RlJTIwZGUlMjBjYWxjdWwlMjBkdSUyMERlbHRhJTIwRSUyMiUyQyUyMm1hcmtzJTIyJTNBJTVCJTVEJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVEJTdE">Choice of the Delta E calculation method</span>

[![image-1628613040840.png](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/scaled-1680-/image-1628613040840.png)](https://wiki.coraye.com/uploads/images/gallery/2021-08/image-1628613040840.png)

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#### <span data-slate-fragment="JTdCJTIyb2JqZWN0JTIyJTNBJTIyZG9jdW1lbnQlMjIlMkMlMjJkYXRhJTIyJTNBJTdCJTdEJTJDJTIybm9kZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJibG9jayUyMiUyQyUyMnR5cGUlMjIlM0ElMjJoZWFkaW5nLTIlMjIlMkMlMjJpc1ZvaWQlMjIlM0FmYWxzZSUyQyUyMmRhdGElMjIlM0ElN0IlN0QlMkMlMjJub2RlcyUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMm9iamVjdCUyMiUzQSUyMnRleHQlMjIlMkMlMjJsZWF2ZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJsZWFmJTIyJTJDJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkNvbmNsdXNpb24lMjIlMkMlMjJtYXJrcyUyMiUzQSU1QiU1RCU3RCU1RCU3RCU1RCU3RCU1RCU3RA==">Conclusion</span>

<span class="text-4505230f--TextH400-3033861f--textContentFamily-49a318e1"><span data-key="5a1e8a807290494692b61479292f52f3">PANTONE® paper color charts are less accurate than their digital versions because printed versions cannot be reproduced with absolute values, let alone wear and tear from handling.  
  
</span></span>In addition, measurement with a spectrophotometer is more precise and is not disturbed by the ambient environment unlike a visual comparison (Observation under a bad light source for example).