diff --git a/ASCII/plugin.py b/ASCII/plugin.py
index bca3aa0..14965a4 100644
--- a/ASCII/plugin.py
+++ b/ASCII/plugin.py
@@ -471,43 +471,47 @@ class ASCII(callbacks.Plugin):
                 return self.rgbColors.index(pixel, 0, 98)
             else:
                 return self.rgbColors.index(pixel, 16, 98)
-    def rgb2lab (self, inputColor) :
-        num = 0
-        RGB = [0, 0, 0]
-        for value in inputColor :
-            value = float(value) / 255
-            if value > 0.04045 :
-                value = ( ( value + 0.055 ) / 1.055 ) ** 2.4
-            else :
-                value = value / 12.92
-            RGB[num] = value * 100
-            num = num + 1
-        XYZ = [0, 0, 0,]
-        X = RGB [0] * 0.4124 + RGB [1] * 0.3576 + RGB [2] * 0.1805
-        Y = RGB [0] * 0.2126 + RGB [1] * 0.7152 + RGB [2] * 0.0722
-        Z = RGB [0] * 0.0193 + RGB [1] * 0.1192 + RGB [2] * 0.9505
-        XYZ[ 0 ] = round( X, 4 )
-        XYZ[ 1 ] = round( Y, 4 )
-        XYZ[ 2 ] = round( Z, 4 )
-        XYZ[ 0 ] = float( XYZ[ 0 ] ) / 95.047         # ref_X =  95.047   Observer= 2°, Illuminant= D65
-        XYZ[ 1 ] = float( XYZ[ 1 ] ) / 100.0          # ref_Y = 100.000
-        XYZ[ 2 ] = float( XYZ[ 2 ] ) / 108.883        # ref_Z = 108.883
-        num = 0
-        for value in XYZ :
-            if value > 0.008856 :
-                value = value ** ( 0.3333333333333333 )
-            else :
-                value = ( 7.787 * value ) + ( 16 / 116 )
-            XYZ[num] = value
-            num = num + 1
-        Lab = [0, 0, 0]
-        L = ( 116 * XYZ[ 1 ] ) - 16
-        a = 500 * ( XYZ[ 0 ] - XYZ[ 1 ] )
-        b = 200 * ( XYZ[ 1 ] - XYZ[ 2 ] )
-        Lab [ 0 ] = round( L, 4 )
-        Lab [ 1 ] = round( a, 4 )
-        Lab [ 2 ] = round( b, 4 )
-        return Lab
+	def rgb2lab (self, inputColor) :
+        try:
+            return self.labmatches[inputColor]
+        except:
+            num = 0
+            RGB = [0, 0, 0]
+            for value in inputColor :
+                value = float(value) / 255
+                if value > 0.04045 :
+                    value = ( ( value + 0.055 ) / 1.055 ) ** 2.4
+                else :
+                    value = value / 12.92
+                RGB[num] = value * 100
+                num = num + 1
+            XYZ = [0, 0, 0,]
+            X = RGB [0] * 0.4124 + RGB [1] * 0.3576 + RGB [2] * 0.1805
+            Y = RGB [0] * 0.2126 + RGB [1] * 0.7152 + RGB [2] * 0.0722
+            Z = RGB [0] * 0.0193 + RGB [1] * 0.1192 + RGB [2] * 0.9505
+            XYZ[ 0 ] = round( X, 4 )
+            XYZ[ 1 ] = round( Y, 4 )
+            XYZ[ 2 ] = round( Z, 4 )
+            XYZ[ 0 ] = float( XYZ[ 0 ] ) / 95.047         # ref_X =  95.047   Observer= 2°, Illuminant= D65
+            XYZ[ 1 ] = float( XYZ[ 1 ] ) / 100.0          # ref_Y = 100.000
+            XYZ[ 2 ] = float( XYZ[ 2 ] ) / 108.883        # ref_Z = 108.883
+            num = 0
+            for value in XYZ :
+                if value > 0.008856 :
+                    value = value ** ( 0.3333333333333333 )
+                else :
+                    value = ( 7.787 * value ) + ( 16 / 116 )
+                XYZ[num] = value
+                num = num + 1
+            Lab = [0, 0, 0]
+            L = ( 116 * XYZ[ 1 ] ) - 16
+            a = 500 * ( XYZ[ 0 ] - XYZ[ 1 ] )
+            b = 200 * ( XYZ[ 1 ] - XYZ[ 2 ] )
+            Lab [ 0 ] = round( L, 4 )
+            Lab [ 1 ] = round( a, 4 )
+            Lab [ 2 ] = round( b, 4 )
+            self.labmatches[inputColor] = Lab
+            return self.labmatches[inputColor]
 
     def ciede2000(self, lab1, lab2):
         """ CIEDE2000 color difference formula. https://peteroupc.github.io/colorgen.html"""
@@ -934,6 +938,7 @@ class ASCII(callbacks.Plugin):
                 image2 = image2.convert('RGB')
             colormap = np.array(image2)
             self.matches = {}
+            self.labmatches = {}
         # ascii image is a list of character strings
         aimg = []
         if type == '1/2':