Natural Variability of the Color of Beech Wood in the Color Space CIE L*a*b*

Abstract

In this contribution, the color of dry beech wood from the zone, sapwood, mature wood and false heartwood of Fagus sylvatica L. trees was analyzed, and the measurement values were statistically processed in relation to the lightness coordinate L* as well as the chromatic coordinates of red color a* and yellow color b* in the color space CIE L*a*b*. The dispersion of color (color dispersion) ∆EuC of beech wood in coreless zones and the color of the wood of false heartwood were evaluated through the combined standard uncertainties of the individual coordinates of the color space. The visual color differences between the color of sapwood beech wood and the color of mature wood as well as between the color of sapwood and false heartwood are numerically documented through the values of total color differences ∆E* = 3.5 and ∆E* = 18.1. Within the framework of the categorization, the color difference between mature wood and sapwood belongs to the category of visible changes, and the difference between the color of the wood of the false heartwood and the color of the sapwood belongs to the category of significant color changes. By defining the boundaries of the color of beech wood for the color of sapwood, mature wood and false heartwood in the color space CIE L*a*b*, space is created to sort it into color groups in case of customer requests. At the same time, designers are expanding the possibilities of applying beech wood to color compositions, depending on the darkness and color of the beech wood identified by the values of the color space coordinates.