What is CIE XYZ color space and why is it fundamental?

CIE XYZ is the foundational color space in colorimetry, established by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1931. It represents how the average human eye perceives color using three tristimulus values (X, Y, Z). XYZ is device-independent and serves as the mathematical foundation for all modern color management systems.

How does XYZ differ from RGB color spaces?

RGB is a device-dependent color space that varies between displays and devices, while XYZ is device-independent and represents colors as they are actually perceived by human vision. RGB values (0-255) are convenient for digital displays, but XYZ values provide the scientific foundation for accurate color representation and measurement.

What does D65 illuminant mean in color conversion?

D65 is the standard illuminant representing average daylight with a correlated color temperature of 6500K. It defines the reference white point for XYZ calculations, ensuring consistent color measurements across different applications and devices. D65 is the most common standard used in digital imaging and color management.

How do I interpret X, Y, and Z values?

X, Y, and Z are tristimulus values representing the three components of human color vision. X corresponds roughly to red, Y to green (and luminance/brightness), and Z to blue. The values can range from 0 to over 100, with the exact range depending on the reference white point and color gamut.

What are the practical applications of XYZ color space?

XYZ is used in color science research, color management systems, ICC profile creation, display calibration, lighting analysis, and as an intermediate space for converting between different color spaces. It's essential for any application requiring precise color measurement and communication.

Can I convert XYZ back to RGB?

Yes, XYZ to RGB conversion is possible using the inverse sRGB transformation matrix. However, some XYZ colors may fall outside the sRGB gamut (displayable range), requiring gamut compression or clipping. Our tool focuses on RGB to XYZ conversion for color science applications.

RGB to XYZ Converter

Convert RGB colors to CIE XYZ color space with scientific precision using standard sRGB to XYZ matrix transformation. Fundamental color science tool for color management, research, and as the bridge between device-dependent and device-independent color spaces.

rgb

xyz

cie-xyz

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Quick Presets

Preset colors for testing XYZ conversions

Input

Enter RGB values to convert to CIE XYZ color space.

Red (R)

Green (G)

Blue (B)

How it works: Converts sRGB to CIE XYZ color space using the D65 illuminant and standard sRGB transformation matrix. XYZ is a device-independent color space that serves as the foundation for most other color models.

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