Farbtechnik

Farbtechnik (color technology) is the field concerned with the generation, reproduction, and control of color across media. It spans art, printing, textiles, coatings, plastics, and digital displays, and combines color theory, pigment chemistry, and process engineering.

Core concepts include colorimetry and color science, color spaces and appearance models, and measurement methods. Colorimetry uses standardized observers and illuminants to quantify color with devices such as spectrophotometers and colorimeters. Common color spaces include CIE XYZ, Lab, RGB, and CMYK; color management relies on ICC profiles and device calibration to achieve consistent reproduction.

Practical workflows cover pigment and dye selection, formulation, and dispersion; color matching and quality control; and reproduction processes such as painting, screen printing, offset printing, digital inkjet printing, and textile dyeing. Substrates affect hue, saturation, and lightness, requiring calibration. Metamerism, aging, and lighting conditions can alter perceived color.

Applications include fine arts conservation, publishing and packaging, textile and fashion, automotive and plastic industries, and consumer electronics displays. Education and research in Farbtechnik draw on chemistry, physics, materials science, and design, often within color science, materials engineering, or textile technology programs.