AbstractTwo matameric stimuli with identical tristimulus values must have spectral radiance distributions that cross at least three times. Many studies have shown that the crossover locations of three‐crossover metamers tend to occur in certain defined regions. This finding has led to hypotheses concerning fundamental aspects of the visual system. In the current article, calculations are reported that prove that crossover locations depend on the spectral properties of the metameric stimuli. For object colors, the spectral properties are determined by colorant obsorption bandwidths. Depending on the absorption bandwidth, crossovers can occur in nearly any region of the visible spectrum. Thus any relationship between crossover wavelengths and properties of the visual system such as maximal responsivities appears coincidenta