COLOR ANALYSIS BASED UPON TRANSFORMATION TO SPHERICAL COORDINATES

A color analysis and evaluation method is disclosed based upon a transformation of three primary color measurements, red, blue and green, from an x,y,z cartesian coordinate system to a rotated spherical coordinate system in which a target color vector in the cartesian coordinate system defines the primary z axis in the rotated spherical coordinate system. In one disclosed embodiment, a computerized color analysis is performed upon a finished baked product such as a pound cake with a split in the top thereof. A detector such as a color television camera measures three primary color components of each pixel of a matrix of pixels into which an image of the product is divided by the detector. The three measured primary color components are then transposed to a reference spherical coordinate system having the z axis aligned with a target color for the product. A determination is then made as to whether a measured color vector is within predetermined limits to determine if it is within an acceptable color sector.