The colour changes of 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol and naphthol green P as new screening metallochromic indicator in back-titration of EDTA excess with Zn(II) to determine Cr(III)/EDTA complex was investigated with the help of tristimulus colorimetry. Specific colour discrimination (SCD) and L*, a*, b* 1976 parameters were successfully applied to evaluate the quality of colour transition at the end-point in non-alkaline media and in the presence of Zn(II) and Ca(II) which resulted in non-interfering species at 1 X 10(-3) M and 2 x 10(-3) M, respectively. The above concentrations are comparable with those used for Cr(Ill). Validation of the fast and accurate reported method was performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, the method was applied for determining Cr as Cr(III) in a wastewater effluent deriving from a leather industry. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.