Abstract This article describes modifications to the CIECAM02 appearance model based on the Hunt‐Pointer‐Estevez (HPE) matrix together with a revised nonlinear luminance adaptation function. The modified model removes the mathematical inconsistencies for both the forward and the inverse models that occur with CIECAM02 for highly saturated colors. The modified CIECAM02 can be considered an interim solution for use in color management for cross-media color reproduction before an updated version of CIECAM02 is developed by CIE Technical Committee. The modified model, however, performed 0.3 CV units worse than the original in predicting visual data derived by magnitude estimation, and an average of 1.3 CIELAB color difference units worse when predicting corresponding color data sets.