Journal profile · Engineering, Chemical
COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION
ISSN 0361-2317 · eISSN 1520-6378 · John Wiley and Sons Inc. · UNITED STATES · Bimonthly · Founded 1976
COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION: CAS Zone 3 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.91; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,180; median 152 days to acceptance (93 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 71 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION is published by John Wiley and Sons Inc. and is in Zone 3 of Engineering in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Color Science and Applications, Color perception and design and Visual perception and processing mechanisms, together about 56.7% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Color Research and Application provides a forum for the publication of peer-reviewed reviews, research articles, and editorials of the highest quality on the science, technology, and application of color in multiple disciplines. Due to the highly interdisciplinary influence of color, the readership of the journal is similarly widespread and includes those in business, art, design, education, as well as various industries. Topics covered and of interest to readers of Color Research and Application include, but are not limited to: Industry Paint; plastics; paper; textiles; printing Scientific Fields Chemistry; biology; food science; physics; psychology- particularly perception, vision science, linguistics Application Fields Industrial design and production of colored products including paints, plastics, textiles, cosmetics; printing; lighting; optics; electronics including TVs, computers, cell phones Art; art conservation; design; architecture; urban planning; dentistry; archiving; education; forensics; military camouflage; cartography; deep data including visualization and sorting Color Research and Application is endorsed by multiple international color societies and associations, including: the Inter-Society Color Council, The Colour Group (Great Britain), the Color Science Association of Japan, View on Colour -- the Dutch Colour Foundation, the Swedish Colour Centre Foundation, Colour Society of Australia, Centre Français de la Coleur, Comite Espanol del Color, Grupo Argentino del Color, the German Society of Color Science and Application, pro/colore - the Swiss Colour Association, and the Color Association of China. Color Research and Application also publishes meeting reports, book reviews, and applied theory articles.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Engineering, Chemical
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United Kingdom 7, United States 4, Japan 3, Spain 3, Mainland China 2 (33 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Color Science and ApplicationsPhysics and Astronomy27.9%
- Color perception and designPsychology20.2%
- Visual perception and processing mechanismsNeuroscience8.7%
- Dyeing and Modifying Textile FibersEngineering7.1%
- melanin and skin pigmentationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.9%
- Image Enhancement TechniquesComputer Science3.7%
- Cultural Heritage Materials AnalysisArts and Humanities3.3%
- Multisensory perception and integrationPsychology2.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Engineering Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Engineering Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexWeb of ScienceINSPECPsycINFOCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: EBSCO
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.91LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2Publisher website ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 4.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore (publisher) 2025
- 4.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.59LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.39LetPub ·
- h-index
- 56LetPub ·
- h-index
- 103OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,351OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 39.16%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 58LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher) 2025
- 58Publisher website ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 185,997Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 5,230 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 97 | 44 | 19 |
| 2025 | 71 | 33 | 52 |
| 2024 | 53 | 36 | 151 |
| 2023 | 83 | 59 | 441 |
| 2022 | 73 | 26 | 423 |
| 2021 | 167 | 33 | 1,246 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
152 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 86 days – 229 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 16 days (93 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 177 days
- Sample
- 93 articles with submission and acceptance dates (167 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 27%Publisher website ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher) 2025
- 27%Publisher website ·
- Submission to first decision
- 26 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to first decision 2025
- 26 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance 2025
- 202 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication 2025
- 16 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,180 / EUR 2,660 / GBP 2,130 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Submission fee
- No submission fee
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare2 items from the author guidelines
- Reference style
- AMA
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
Article types accepted10
- book reviewResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- editorialResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- forum articleResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- from the editorResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- meeting reportResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- perspectiveResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- research articleResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- reviewResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- short communicationResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
- tutorialResearch Article Short Communication Review Perspective Forum article Tutorial Book Review Meeting Report Editorial From the EditorLength not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAuthorship, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- Authorship Authorship
Cover image submissions accepted Model summary
All listed authors should have contributed to the manuscript substantially and have agreed to the final submitted version. Review editorial standards and scroll down for a description of authorship criteria.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data Sharing and Data Availability
This journal expects data sharing. Review Wiley’s Data Sharing policy where you will be able to see and select the data availability statement that is right for your submission.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Reproduction of Copyright Material
CC-BY/CC-BY-NC/CC-BY-NC-ND licenses offered Model summary
If excerpts from copyrighted works owned by third parties are included, credit must be shown in the contribution. It is your responsibility to also obtain written permission for reproduction from the copyright owners. For more information visit Wiley’s Copyright Terms & Conditions FAQ.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open Access
ORCID required for submitting author Model summary
This journal is a subscription journal that offers an open access option. You’ll have the option to choose to make your article open access after acceptance, which will be subject to an APC. You can read more about APCs and whether you may be eligible for waivers or discounts, through your institution, funder, or a country waiver.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review 1. Submission and Peer Review Process
Single-anonymized peer review model Model summary
New submissions should be made via the Research Exchange submission portal https://authors.wiley.com/journal/COL. Should your manuscript proceed to the revision stage, you will be directed to make your revisions via the same submission portal. You may check the status of your submission at anytime by logging on to authors.wiley.com and clicking the “My Submissions” button. For technical help with …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints
Preprints accepted Model summary
This journal accepts articles previously published on preprint servers.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1976
- ISSN
- 0361-2317
- Electronic ISSN
- 1520-6378
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 51, Issue 5 (October 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION
What CAS zone is COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION is in Zone 3 of Engineering, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Chemistry, Applied / Imaging Science & Photographic Technology / Optics. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Engineering. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.91; CiteScore 4.3, h-index 103.
How long does peer review take at COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION?
Based on the dates recorded on 93 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 152 days (interquartile range 86–229 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”; the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 27% (2025). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Reference style: AMA; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION based?
Of the 33 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (7), United States (4) and Japan (3). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, Web of Science, INSPEC, PsycINFO and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION open access, and what is the APC?
COLOR RESEARCH AND APPLICATION is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,180.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .