# Delta E Finder

{% hint style="info" %}
The Delta E is the distance between two colors\
But if you want to know, what is a Delta E ? Following the wikipedia link, and you will understand what is it :\
\
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_difference>
{% endhint %}

![](/files/-MF6BfJ5oZX50iIOnWyM)

The closer the Delta E is to 0, the smaller is the difference between the colors. If the Delta E is higher then 2, the human eye recognizes the difference between two colors.

Delta E Finder is able to compare two kind of files:

* .spc : Measured color with a spectrophotometer and with spectral data included
* .spot : Color export from a color table or directly created with Lab values only.

In this tutorial, we are going to compare a Pantone sample from a printed swatch book with a value from a digital swatch book.

### Read a PANTONE sample with your spectrophotometer.

{% hint style="danger" %}
In this example we will use a PANTONE spot color table.To use this PANTONE spot color table you must have the licence to use it.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
The best way to get it, is to buy a PANTONE Formula Guide.With each of them, you will have a Code to download the PANTONE Color book into digital format with the PANTONE COLOR MANAGER Software.
{% endhint %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-LjRWNUUBgIH4z82yR6v" %}
[Capturing a color](/colors/capture-a-color.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

![PANTONE sample measurement](/files/-Lr8QMEXG4Ph3No2dFxz)

### Import the PANTONE C digital swatch book

To import a color table, you just need to drag & drop the file into the left column.

{% content-ref url="/pages/-LjRZ7m\_9VHQyV5ahMiO" %}
[Colors tables](/colors-tables/colors-tables.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

![](/files/-MF6HaRD13A4PduibasM)

### Import a selected PANTONE sample to put into the left column

You just need to write the PANTONE number into the "**search**" area then you have to drag & drop the displayed color from the color table to the left column.

![](/files/-MF6IU3ZpJ-FBLUMRzeX)

### How to know the Delta E between two color

The last step is to select the reference color and to drag & drop the color to compare into the **Delta Finder** area.

Delta E value will appear below

![](/files/-MF6JTHTy1rJYzcxtdsM)

### Delta E selection

![Choose the Delta E method among 2000, 94 and 76](/files/-Lr8Vr-ScSRxFpFm6VwB)

### Conclusion:

Printed PANTONE Swatch books are less accurate than a digital swatch book because a printed swatch book don't have absolutes colors. \
\
The measurement with a spectrophotometer is more accurate and is not disturbed by a visual comparaison in a wrong condition (a wrong illuminant e.g.)


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