What is metamerism, and why do colours look different next to other colours?
Two effects combine here: metamerism (two colours that match under one light but not another, due to different underlying reflectance) and simultaneous contrast (a colour looking different depending on what's directly next to it, a genuine perceptual effect).
What’s affected
- perceived hue shifts
- perceived lightness shifts
- apparent colour match
Colours that tend to cope better
Colours from the same product range/batch are less prone to metamerism against each other than colours matched across different manufacturers.
Colours to watch
A colour chosen in isolation (on a chart, away from its final neighbours) can look different once placed beside the room's actual flooring, furniture or trim.
Testing advice
Always check a sample directly alongside the specific materials and colours it will actually sit next to, not in isolation.
Lighting simulations and descriptions here are approximations, not exact physical predictions — see methodology.
Related terms
Sources
- CIE (International Commission on Illumination) publications — CIE