COLOR, FORM,
AND DISTANCE
COLOR
The color of an object is determined by the
wavelengths of light that object absorbs and
reflects.
When you paint an object, you are applying a
pigment that selectively absorbs and reflects
different wavelengths.
COLOR
Color is an illusion.Your brain tells you that
things have color. All color wavelengths are
absorbed except those wavelengths that
produce that color.
Ex. If you see a wall painted red, all
wavelengths are being absorbed, except the
red wavelength.
COLOR SPECTRUM
The color spectrum is easily remembered
with the acronym ROY-G-BIV from the
longest to shortest waves (red-orangeyellow-green-blue-indigo-violet)
Red-Orange-Yellow-Green-Blue-Indigo-Violet
(longest
shortest)
WAVELENGTHS
There can be a broader wavelength than red,
but we can’t see it
Ex. Radio waves.
There can be a thinner wavelength than
violet. But we can’t see that either
Ex. Microwave or ultraviolet waves
TWO THEORIES OF COLOR VISION
Trichromatic Theory: The human
eye has three types of cones (red, green
and blue) and thus all color perception
must be due to mixing of these three
colors.
Uses red, green and blue in staggered forms. This
is how a TV works (red, green, blue projectors).
TRICHROMATIC TV SCREEN
COLOR VISION
 Trichromats- People with normal color vision who can
discern all the colors of the visible spectrum- red, green,
and blue-violet- as well as colors formed by various
combinations of these hues.
 Monochromats- People who only see in black and white
 About 1 in every 40,000 people
 Dichromats- People who lack one of the 3 types of cones,
making it difficult to distinguish between certain types of
colors.
 People who are colorblind (red-green most common in
men 8%; 1% in women)
TWO THEORIES OF COLOR VISION
Opponent-Process Theory: Colors
are paired and are antagonists (red vs.
green, blue vs. yellow, white vs. black).
If a cone is responding to a red wavelength, it
cannot respond to a green one at the same
time.
OPPONENT-PROCESS
OPPONENT-PROCESS
LILAC CHASER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilac_chaser
COLOR PERSONALITY TEST
http://www.eyetricks.com/illusions.htm
http://www.viewzone.com/luscher2.html