FED-STD-595C
4. General Requirements:
a. Color Matching: This standard covers color chips for color matching and control of
items produced for Government use. Unless otherwise specified or designated by the
contracting officer, color chips shall be the latest in effect by date of contract. Neither the
Fan Decks nor the Color Book shall be used for color matching. Tristimulus values are
provided as a reference in this standard to supplement the primary color chip reference.
b. Metamerism: Colors that visually match in lights of certain spectral compositions but
not in others are said to be metameric. The light source, condition of viewing and
specular reflectance are critical to overcome metamerism and to determine correct
matches. Therefore, light sources as specified in ASTM D1729 shall be used for visual
color matching.
c. Color Matching Criteria: In specifying color, procurement documents should state the
Fed-Std-595 color number.
d. Color Chips Authorized for Use:
i. After the publication of this standard, only color chips marked Fed-Std-595C
shall be used.
ii. Color chips which are soiled, stained, faded, or otherwise damaged due to
improper handling, storage, or exposure to light or chemicals shall not be used.
e. Care of Color Chips: All color chips will change with time and some will change more
than others. Color change can be minimized by observing the following procedures.
i. Store the color chips in a cool dark place.
ii. Avoid exposure of the color chips to direct or scattered UV light or chemicals.
iii. Minimize exposure of the color chips to light from any source.
iv. Keep the color chips covered when not in use.
v. Do not touch the face of the color chips.
Color Chip Reproduction: Color chips may not be reproduced without the
f.
authorization of General Services Administration. Reproduction of color chips from any
source other than the master standard is not authorized. The General Services
Administration must approve all color matches made when the color chips are
reproduced.
Detailed Requirements
5.
a. Available Items: The following items are available to both the Federal Community and
commercial customers:
i. Fan Deck of representative colors, 0.5 x 2 inch color chips. The National Stock
Number for this is 7690-01-162-2210.
ii. Fed-Std-595 Color Book, consisting of an 8.5 x 11 inch compilation of the
representative color chips, each 0.5 x 1 inch in size. Individual paint colors are
arranged in tabs by color family and in each tab, sequentially from light to dark
and according to color chip number. These are formatted in three parallel
columns corresponding to flat, semigloss and gloss.
iii. Individual 3 x 5 inch color reference chips
iv. Color set of all 650 3 x 5 inch color reference chips
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