THE CHROMA INSTITUTE
Colour science for the real world.
The Chroma Institute applies rigorous colour science to the practical challenges of miniature painting. We measure, analyse and compare physical paints to create reliable, manufacturer-independent colour data. This helps painters make better choices and manufacturers understand their products in a new way.
From measurement to practical colour
Measure
Measure
Measure
Physical paints measured using instrumental colour analysis.
Compare
Measure
Measure
Objective colour data allows paints from different manufacturers to be compared directly.
Use
Measure
Use
Paint Lab turns those measurements into practical tools for finding, comparing and choosing paints.
PAINT LAB
Turn colour data into better paint choices.
Paint Lab turns independently measured colour data into practical tools for miniature painters. Search and compare paints across manufacturers, find close colour matches, explore colour relationships and build palettes with confidence.
THE SCIENCE OF COLOUR
Measure colour. Compare it objectively.
Colour is more than a name, a photograph or a digital swatch. By measuring physical paint samples and representing them within a perceptual colour space, we can quantify how colours relate to one another, and how different they really are.
Exploring measured paint colours in OKLab colour space. The animation follows a linear colour path from Gal Vorbak Red to Moot Green, identifying the nearest measured paint at 10% intervals.
PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT
PERCEPTUAL COLOUR SPACE
PERCEPTUAL COLOUR SPACE
Physical paint samples are measured under controlled conditions, providing objective colour data independent of manufacturer-provided digital swatches.
PERCEPTUAL COLOUR SPACE
PERCEPTUAL COLOUR SPACE
PERCEPTUAL COLOUR SPACE
Measurements are represented in OKLab, where L describes lightness, a represents the green–red axis and b represents the blue–yellow axis.
COLOUR DIFFERENCE
PERCEPTUAL COLOUR SPACE
COLOUR DIFFERENCE
Distances between colours can be quantified using ΔEOK, allowing Paint Lab to identify and rank paints according to their similarity.
Why measure physical paint?
Digital swatches are representations of colour, not measurements of the physical paint. Screen settings, photography, lighting and manufacturer-provided colour values can all affect how a paint is represented digitally.
By measuring physical paint samples under controlled conditions, The Chroma Institute creates a consistent dataset in which paints from different manufacturers can be compared on the same basis.
From measurement to practical colour tools
Paint Lab turns these measurements into practical tools for miniature painters, including finding comparable paints, exploring colour relationships and navigating between colours using measured data rather than guesswork.
FOR PAINT MANUFACTURERS
Independent measurement. Better product visibility.
The Chroma Institute works with paint manufacturers to independently measure and catalogue their products for inclusion in the Paint Lab colour database.
By providing physical paint samples for testing, manufacturers can have their products represented using consistent, independently measured colour data. This allows painters to discover, compare and use their paints alongside products from across the market.
Manufacturer Product Sample Programme
We are inviting paint manufacturers to participate in our product sample programme for independent colour testing and inclusion in Paint Lab.
Participating products are physically measured, classified and incorporated into the Paint Lab dataset, helping painters discover paints through colour rather than relying solely on brand or product-name searches.
SEND
DISCOVER
MEASURE
Provide physical samples of the paints you would like included.
MEASURE
DISCOVER
MEASURE
We independently measure and catalogue their colour properties.
DISCOVER
DISCOVER
DISCOVER
Your paints become discoverable through Paint Lab's colour search, comparison and exploration tools.
Interested in having your paints measured?
We welcome enquiries from paint manufacturers interested in participating in the programme.