Zielfarbe

Zielfarbe, literally “target color,” is a term used in German to denote the color that a process, product, or outcome is intended to achieve. It serves as a reference color in color-management and quality-control workflows and is the color against which actual results are measured.

Etymology and meaning: The word combines Ziel (target, goal) and Farbe (color). It is not a formally standardized technical term with a single universal definition; its precise meaning depends on the context. In general, it refers to the desired or required color specification for a given item or process.

Contexts and usage: In printing, display calibration, and color management, the Zielfarbe is the color profile’s target value that a device should reproduce. In quality control and color matching, a sample’s color is compared to the Zielfarbe to assess accuracy. In automotive painting and product manufacturing, the customer’s chosen color or the approved color standard may be described as the Zielfarbe. In textiles and dyeing, the recipe aims to produce the Zielfarbe under defined lighting conditions.

Measurement and tolerance: Assessment typically uses color-imaging instruments (e.g., spectrophotometers) and color-difference formulas (such as Delta E in CIELAB). Tolerances for what counts as an acceptable match vary by industry and product requirements; high-precision fields may target Delta E values near 1 or below, while consumer applications may allow larger deviations.

Documentation: Because Zielfarbe is context-dependent, it is important to document the exact color specification (color space, illuminant, and reference values) used in a project to ensure consistent interpretation.

See also: Delta E, color management, ICC profile, color matching, reference color.