Colorimetric Characterization of See-Through Near-Eye Displays

Colorimetric fidelity is a critical challenge for optical see-through augmented reality (AR) near-eye displays, where virtual imagery is directly superimposed onto the real-world environment. Unlike conventional displays, AR systems follow an additive light model, making perceived color highly sensitive to ambient illumination.

In this study, we present a quantitative colorimetric characterization of a see-through AR near-eye display under controlled dark, indoor, and outdoor lighting conditions. Using calibrated spectral and luminance measurements, we show that ambient light severely compresses the achievable color gamut and dominates perceived luminance, leading to desaturation, hue shifts and contrast loss. The results highlight fundamental limitations of color accuracy in optical see-through AR and emphasize the need for illumination-aware color correction strategies to ensure consistent visual performance across real-world environments.