Metamerism 2026

Tuesday 6 October 2026
1:00pm - 6:00pm - followed by networking drinks.
London Film School - 24 Shelton St, Greater, London WC2H 9UB

Ever wondered why an image looks perfect on one screen but completely different on another?

Metamerism is a phenomenon where colours appear to match under one lighting, display or projection condition but diverge under another. While it can be subtle, the effect has significant implications for colour fidelity, audience experience and trust in moving image content.

From the set to the streaming platform, and from broadcast to the cinema, colour consistency is more than a technical challenge - it is vital to preserving creative intent and delivering a consistent audience experience.

As display and projection technologies continue to develop, metamerism presents a growing challenge for filmmakers, cinematographers, colourists, post-production specialists, display manufacturers and broadcasters.

A director may approve a final image in a screening room, only to find that it looks different when shown in a cinema using another projection system. How can the industry identify, manage and minimise these differences?

Following the success of IMIS’s first metamerism event in 2025, Colour Truth returns in 2026 to continue this important industry conversation.

The afternoon will bring together creative and technical experts for keynote presentations, technical insights and an expert panel discussion exploring:

• How metamerism affects cameras, displays, lighting and cinema projection
• The impact of emerging technologies, including laser projection
• Tools, workflows and calibration approaches for managing metameric failure
• The role of technical standards in improving colour consistency
• Practical experiences from professionals working across the colour pipeline

A refreshment break will be included, with networking drinks following the main programme.

This is an IMIS Member and Industry Event designed for professionals and students across the moving image sector, including:

• Colour scientists
• Cinematographers
• Colourists and post-production teams
• Display and projection manufacturers
• Filmmakers and content creators
• Broadcast and cinema technologists
• Students entering the moving image industries
• Anyone involved in maintaining colour accuracy and creative intent
  

You do not need to be an IMIS member or a colour science specialist to attend.

IMIS Members: FREE

Students and lecturers on IMIS-accredited courses: FREE

Eligible IMIS members, students and lecturers will receive a dedicated booking link by email or through their participating organisation. When opened, the link will automatically display the correct ticket.

If you believe you are eligible but have not received the appropriate booking link, please email [email protected] before booking.

Students at other institutions: £10, including one year of IMIS Student Membership

This discounted ticket is available to students who are not currently studying on an eligible IMIS-accredited course at the University of Roehampton or Bournemouth University.

You may be asked to provide valid student identification.

Lecturers at other institutions: £45, including one year of IMIS Associate Membership

This ticket is available to lecturers who are not currently studying on an eligible IMIS-accredited course at the University of Roehampton or Bournemouth University.

You may be asked to provide valid student identification.

Non-members: £45, including one year of IMIS Associate Membership

The non-member ticket includes admission to the event and one year of IMIS membership, connecting you with a global moving image community and providing access to industry events, learning opportunities, expert content, historic archives and sector updates.

All tickets include access to the complete event programme, refreshment break and networking drinks.

IMIS membership connects you with a global community of moving image professionals and provides access to industry events, learning opportunities, expert content, historic archives and sector updates.

Members can also contribute to the future of the moving image industries by sharing knowledge, volunteering and helping to shape the Society’s work.

Info: A welcome from IMIS Board Member, Simon Hasler

Info: Our host will welcome delegates, introduce the theme of this year’s event and set the scene for the afternoon ahead.

Info: What exactly is metamerism, and why has it become one of the industry’s most talked-about colour challenges?
This opening presentation introduces the science and terminology behind metamerism in an accessible way, exploring why matching colour has become increasingly complex across production, post and exhibition.

From observer metameric failure to the growing use of narrow-band display technologies, attendees will gain a shared understanding of the language, challenges and opportunities that will underpin the rest of the day’s discussions.

Info: Technical challenges begin with human perception. Stepping away from cameras and displays, this thought-provoking presentation explores how humans experience colour by asking what colour is for. Why did colour vision evolve? What behavioural purposes does colour serve?

Drawing on physiology and perception science, this talk examines colour constancy as core to the very concept of colour, and vital to understanding what colour is for. Colour constancy is also the perceptual phenomenon that drives our desire for colour consistency across modern workflows.

Info: PANEL
Every stage of the creative process views colour through a different lens.

Bringing together experts from across the production pipeline, this panel explores how directors, cinematographers, colourists, technologists and exhibitors each define success. Where do expectations align? Where do they conflict?

Through honest discussion and practical examples, the panel will identify opportunities for stronger collaboration and reveal how greater understanding between disciplines can ultimately deliver better creative outcomes.

Info: PRESENTATION
Once you’ve identified the problem, where do the solutions begin?
Drawing on practical experience from across production and post, this session explores two different ways of thinking about colour consistency: as a vertical challenge within virtual production, where every department collides at once, and as a horizontal challenge that follows a project from acquisition through to final exhibition. Expect practical advice, proven workflows and useful takeaways that attendees can apply immediately to their own productions.

Info: PRESENTATION
Few aspects of colour matter more than faithfully reproducing skin tones.

This research-led presentation examines one of the most demanding challenges in colour science: maintaining natural, consistent skin tones across different cameras, displays and presentation formats.
Combining technical research with practical implications, the session highlights why skin tone remains one of the industry’s most important measures of colour accuracy.

Info: Colour consistency is often regarded as a problem specific to wide gamut displays, but the underlying cause is nearly one hundred years old. The CIE 1931 model on which all colour standards are based contains flaws that are becoming more evident with modern displays. Where does colour science go next?

This forward-looking discussion explores emerging research, evolving standards and the innovations that could transform colour consistency in years to come. From developments such as CIE 2015 to wider industry collaboration, the conversation offers an optimistic glimpse of technologies and workflows that may eventually make many of today’s challenges a thing of the past.

Info: PANEL + Q&A
As audiences increasingly seek premium cinema experiences, how is the industry responding?
Representatives from across the exhibition sector explore the technologies driving premium formats, what audiences expect from them, and the creative opportunities they unlock. Rather than focusing on competing products, the discussion considers how manufacturers, exhibitors and content creators can work towards a shared goal: delivering the very best cinematic experience while navigating the realities of colour consistency across next-generation display technologies.
Mark Kendall, Regional Sales Manager, Christie Digital Systems
Jean-Philippe Jacquemin, Product Manager Digital Cinema, Barco

Info: Final reflections, key takeaways and a look ahead at the next steps for Metamerism.

Event venue & nearby stays

24 Shelton St, 24 Shelton Street, London, United Kingdom

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