Find the wavelength of the first color. You can find the wavelength either by using a spectrophotometer or by searching the Internet for color wavelength charts. The spectrophotometer or color charts should show wavelengths in nanometers.
Find the X,Y and Z values. The CIE color chart assigns X,Y and Z values to different wavelengths of color. Use the charts to find the specific values for your color.
Use the X,Y and Z values to determine the CIE hue of the color. The CIE hue is composed of three variables known as little x, little y and little z. To find the variables, use the formulas:
little x = X/(X+Y+Z)
little y = Y/(X+Y+Z
little z = Z/(X+Y+Z)
Write down the little x, little y and little z values of the color.
Use the CIE color chart and the equations to find the little x, little y and little z values for the second color.
Create a three-dimensional graph with the little z-axis running vertically, the little x-axis pointing off the page toward you and the little y-axis running horizontally.
Label each of the axes from your graph so the little x, y and z coordinates will fit within the scales.
Plot the points from each of the colors on the graph; this will give you a visual representation of the difference between the two colors.
Subtract each of the coordinates of one color from the matching coordinates of the other color to get the numerical difference.