Scoring
How Scoring Works
Dialed uses a sophisticated scoring algorithm based on how humans perceive color differences. It's not just about RGB values - it's about how different colors actually look to your eyes.
The Algorithm
Our scoring system uses the CIELAB color space and Delta E (ΔE) metric, which is the international standard for measuring color differences.
Step 1: Color Space Conversion
- Your HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) input is converted to RGB
- RGB is converted to linear RGB (gamma correction)
- Linear RGB is converted to XYZ color space
- XYZ is converted to CIELAB (L*a*b*) color space
Step 2: Delta E Calculation
Delta E measures the distance between your color and the target color in 3D color space:
ΔE = √((L₁-L₂)² + (a₁-a₂)² + (b₁-b₂)²)- L = Lightness (0 = black, 100 = white)
- a = Green (-) to Red (+) axis
- b = Blue (-) to Yellow (+) axis
Step 3: Sigmoid Mapping
The Delta E value is mapped to a 0-10 score using a sigmoid function:
score = 10 / (1 + (ΔE / 38)^1.6)This means small errors near the target color are penalized less than large errors.
Hue Adjustments
Hue (the base color) is particularly important for human perception. Our algorithm includes special handling for hue accuracy:
Hue Recovery Bonus
If your hue is close to the target (≤ 25° difference), you get a bonus:
- Up to 50% of lost points can be recovered
- Bonus scales with saturation (more significant in vivid colors)
Hue Penalty
If your hue is far off (> 30° difference), you get a penalty:
- Up to 40% additional score reduction
- More severe for highly saturated colors
Score Reference
| Score | ΔE Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | 0 | Perfect match |
| 9.5+ | < 3 | Almost indistinguishable |
| 8.5-9.5 | 3-5 | Very close, noticeable only on close inspection |
| 6.0-8.5 | 5-15 | Clearly different but in the ballpark |
| 3.0-6.0 | 15-38 | Significant difference |
| < 3.0 | > 38 | Way off - different color entirely |
Emoji Ratings
When sharing your score, we use colored squares to represent each round: