Okuzeka
Graphic Design vocabulary · Colour Theory

Metamerism

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In graphic design, metamerism means: A colour match between samples that can fail when viewing conditions change.

In Turkish: metamerizm

How it is used

In print discussions, often use it for samples matching under one light but not another.

Example sentences

  1. Metamerism explained why the two greens differed under the shop lights.

    A match under one illuminant need not survive a change of lighting.

  2. We checked for metamerism when comparing the label with the fabric.

    Different materials may produce a conditional rather than stable colour match.

Common collocations

  • metameric match
  • illuminant metamerism
  • proofA trial version of a design, on paper or as a PDF, that the designer and client check carefully for mistakes and colour before the full print run starts.
  • spot colourA specially mixed ink printed as a single solid colour instead of being built from CMYK dots, used for exact brand colours, metallics and neons. Pantone is the best-known system.

More terms: Colour Theory

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: