A previous study identified a significant metamerism in the several
editions of the Hardy-Rand-Rittler pseudoisochromatic plates (HRR) but did
not proceed to quantify the consequences of that metamerism (Dain, 2004). Metamerism arises from two sources and is
almost inevitable when a printed color vision test is reproduced in
several editions. Metamerism has two consequences; these are
illuminant/source-based changes in performance and changes in
performance with observer (less well known) when assessing anomalous
trichromats. This study addresses the effects of illuminant/source and
observer metamerism on the fourth editions of the HRR. Groups of colors
intended to lie on a dichromat confusion line generally remain on a
confusion line when the source is changed. The plates appear to be
resistant to each form of metamerism, perhaps because the features of the
spectral reflectance are similar for figure color and background gray. As
a consequence, the clinician needs to be less concerned about using a
non-recommended source than was previously believed.