Evolutionary Computation with Habitats for Finding Kubelka-Munk Coefficients in Metallic and Pearlescent Paints

This paper describes an application of evolutionary computing to determining appropriate scattering and absorption coefficients in Kubelka-Munk equations for a set of colorants used in paints. The method describes treatment of the solution spaces as a group of environmental habitats in which constant pairs can move from habitat to habitat and survive where they are successful in determining the behavior of the colorants used. This method was applied and tested on a set of 111 paint samples mixed with components including metallic and pearlescent colorants. The method obtained appropriate coefficients for the paint set without any prior determination of the scattering and absorption of the colorants on standard white or black backings.