This article describes the two basic colorimetric formulas recommended for use by the CIE, International Committee on Lighting (Comite International d l'Eclairage) as of 1976 to measure color separation. The Munsell System is based on a visual representation of the color scales depending on three factors: hue, lightness, and chroma. It is defined by cylindrical coordinates having lightness as the vertical axis, chromas as the horizontal axis, and hues as the angular parameter. The objective of the Munsell System was to develop a linear gradient of the degree of coloration for all colors. The CIE (International Committee on Lighting) system: Because the Munsell System applications remain limited, the CIE has presented its own system in 1931 based on the standard observer, standard illuminant and 3 standard primary colors. In this system, a color is defined by tri-stimulus qualities, X, Y, and Z representing the quantities of the three primary colors whose mixture is considered identical to the ample under study, given the standard observer and the standard illuminant. This three- dimensional representation is referred to as the CIE Space. A comparison of the two formula systems is provided, noting the differences and applications of each. Further, basic developments in the measurement of color separation, based on these two systems are discussed. It is noted that most of the measurement formulas are based on the four approaches: 1) calculations based directly on parameters of the Munsell System; 2) simple linear transformations of the CIE Space; 3) non-linear transformations of the CIE Space; and 4) various numeric linear transformations with coefficients varying with segments of the CIE space under consideration. The CIE attempts to unify all methods of evaluation of color separation have succeeded to date in providing one single formula. The choice of the one to use in a particular case depends on its applicability in a particular industrial sector.