The
CIE 1931 color spaces are the first defined quantitative links between physical pure colors (i.e. wavelengths) in the electromagnetic
visible spectrum, and physiological perceived colors in human
color vision. The mathematical relationships that define these
color spaces are essential tools for
color management. They allow one to translate different physical responses to visible radiation in color inks, illuminated displays, and recording devices such as digital cameras into a universal human color vision response.
CIE 1931 RGB color space and
CIE 1931 XYZ color space were created by the
International Commission on Illumination (CIE) in 1931. The CIE XYZ color space was derived from a series of experiments done in the late 1920s by William David Wright and John Guild. Their experimental results were combined into the specification of the CIE RGB color space, from which the CIE XYZ color space was derived.