Overview
IEC 61966-6:2005 - "Multimedia systems and equipment - Colour measurement and management - Part 6: Front projection displays" defines standardized procedures for objectively characterizing the colour performance of front projection displays. The standard specifies input test signals, environmental and measurement conditions, measurement methods, and reporting formats to support colour characterization and colour management across multimedia systems. It is intended to enable consistent, equipment-specific colour control in open systems while noting that real-world viewing environments may require additional considerations.
Key Topics and Technical Requirements
- Measurement scope: Defines what to measure (spectral characteristics, intensity of primaries and white, basic colorimetric and tone characteristics, inter-channel dependency, spatial non-uniformity) and how to report results.
- Measurement conditions: Environmental and setup requirements for reproducible testing (ambient conditions, virtual screen, effective screen area and height, test patch sizes).
- Input test signals: Normalized digital/analogue input data formats and procedures for generating color patches and drive levels for measurement.
- Measurement equipment: Use of spectroradiometers and colorimeters for obtaining tristimulus values and spectral radiance; guidance on acceptable instrument characteristics.
- Methods of measurement: Procedures for capturing spectral radiance distributions of primaries, tone curves, and inter-channel dependency tests, including sampling points and interpolation methods.
- Reporting and documentation: Standardized tables and reporting forms for peak primaries and white, normalized data for tone characteristics, and spatial uniformity maps.
- Scope limits: The standard does not prescribe pass/fail limits or internal colour control algorithms and excludes detailed calibration procedures beyond measurement and reporting.
Practical Applications and Users
Who benefits from IEC 61966-6:
- Projector and front-projection display manufacturers - for product characterization and datasheets.
- Test laboratories and QA teams - for repeatable colour performance verification.
- Colour management and calibration service providers - to build profiles and correction workflows for projection systems.
- AV integrators, system specifiers, and large venue operators - to evaluate projector suitability and predict colour behaviour in installations.
- Developers of multimedia colour systems and standards bodies - as a reference for objective, comparable colour data.
Practical uses:
- Creating standardized measurement reports for product specifications.
- Feeding measured data into colour management systems for accurate colour reproduction.
- Comparing projector models on colourimetric performance such as primaries, tone response, and spatial uniformity.
Related Standards
- IEC 61966 series (Part 1, Part 2-1 sRGB, Part 3–5, Part 7–11)
- IEC 61947 (electronic projection - measurement and documentation of key performance criteria)
- IEC 60050-845, ISO/CIE 10527, CIE 15.2 (reference colorimetry and vocabulary)
Keywords: IEC 61966-6:2005, front projection displays, colour measurement, colour management, spectroradiometer, colorimeter, input test signals, tone characteristics, spatial non-uniformity.