Changes in Illumination Preferences for Textiles with Varying Physical Color Attributes

This study analyzed people's preferences for different illuminants regarding textiles with a wide range of colors in terms of lightness, chroma, and hue. To analyze these changes in illumination preferences according to the physical color attributes of textiles, the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage L*(10), a*(10)b*(10), C*(ab,10), and h(ab,10) values were measured for 27 types of textile fabrics. Preferences for D65 (6504 K), CWF (4230 K), and an A and CWF mixed illuminant (approximately 3500 K), each with different correlated color temperatures (CCTs), were evaluated for the 27 fabric types. The results showed that regardless of the physical color attributes of the fabric, people preferred D65 (a bluish-white illuminant with a high CCT) the most, followed by CWF (which has a medium CCT) and A+CWF (a reddish illuminant with a low CCT). People's preferences for D65 and CWF showed significant differences depending on the hue of the fabric. Both illuminants showed high preferences among neutral fabrics compared with chromatic fabrics. Among chromatic fabrics, the preferences for D65 and CWF were generally high when the fabric was a cool color, such as blue, rather than a warm color, such as yellow. The lower the chroma C*(ab,10) of the fabrics, the higher the preferences for D65 and CWF were.