Starting from a definition of soft metrology and a description of measurement scales, this report describes a framework on which a set of measurements could be made to provide correlates of visual appearance. It will be shown that the interactions between the various components of the framework are complex, that physical parameters relating to objects are influenced, at the perception stage, by the physiological response of the human visual system and, in addition by the psychological aspects of human learning, pattern, culture and tradition.The end result might be to conclude that an attempt to measure appearance may be too bold a step to take. Thus, a sub-framework is considered in terms of what can now be measured, and what might be measured after further investigation and research. By dealing with the optical properties of materials it is seen that there are, perhaps, four headings under which possible measures might be made: colour, gloss, translucency and texture. It is recognised that these measures are not necessarily independent; colour may influence gloss, colour will certainly influence translucency, and texture is probably a function of all three of the other measures.