The meaning of the value of △E

November 17,2025

The meaning of the value of △E(Source)

What is the significance of the value of △E for the average person?

Actually, △E is widely used in all color-related industries, including not only screens mentioned earlier, but also printing, automotive painting, and more—it's not just a numerical value!

The minimum perceptible difference (JND) of △E generally falls between 1 and 2.5.

Furthermore, the tolerance for △E varies depending on the industry and application.

Below is a brief introduction to some commonly used numerical standards:

△E≦1: The difference is imperceptible to the human eye.

△E≦2: The standard for digital archiving in art museums; unless directly compared to the original color, no significant difference will be perceived.

△E≦4: A color difference will be perceived, but it is still acceptable; this is the standard for most equipment manufacturing or printing settings.

△E≧5: A distinctly different color can be perceived.

The △E value itself represents the absolute value of the color difference, not a percentage. There is no direct formula to convert it to %. However, the magnitude of the value can be compared to the degree of difference perceived by the human eye. Its value ranges from approximately 0 to 100. The closer the value is to 0, the smaller the color difference; the closer it is to 100, the larger the color difference, indicating that the color difference is very significant and close to complete distortion.