The Nature of Color Color Physics Perception Newtons

The Nature of Color: Color Physics & Perception

Newton’s Experiment in 1676:

The 7 Spectral Hues “a dispersive equilateral prism refracting & reflecting an incoming beam of uniform white light”

Spectral Hue: a color that is evoked by a single wavelength or narrow band of wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum. Every wavelength of light is perceived as a spectral color… Despite having different color names: Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, (Indigo), Violet They create ONE-CONTINUOUS-SPECTRUM

Chromaticity Diagram Different wavelengths for different colors

Dueling Theories of Light as a PARTICLE Light as a WAVE

Newton vs. Goethe Sir Isaac Newton: • 1642 – 1727 • English physicist, mathematician, astromomer • Particle Theory of Light • Gravity • Conclusive evidence collected from isolated lab Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: • 1749 - 1832 • German writer, artist, politician • “looked at phenomena from within themselves” • Experiments looked upon from the human experience in his natural environment • “Colors are the deeds and sufferings of light”

Radio excerpt: • On Being’s (Krista Tippett) interview with Physicist, Author, Teacher: Arthur Zajonc, min. 5: 35 -13: 00 • Transcript

The Color Spectrum (visible light spectrum)

Yellow YELLOW Orange Newton’s Color Circle Green ORANGE Red Blue Indigo Violet [ADDITIVE]

The Complete Electromagnetic Spectrum This is the only part visible to The human eye.

Red, Green & Blue (RGB): 3 Primaries of Light

The Additive Primaries of Light B + G = Cyan R + G = Yellow R + B = Magenta R + G + B = WHITE B Magenta…not a color?

Why is Light part of the ADDITIVE System? When all 3 Light Primaries are added, they produce WHITE— that original pure ray of light.

Human Color Perception Retina contains: RGB receptors

Human Color Perception

Rods ‘n Cones • RODS: responsible for our seeing VALUE ---function best during NIGHT-TIME, form and value perception • CONES: responsible for our seeing COLOR ---made up of 3 photo-receptors: Red, Green, & Blue (to create all perceivable colors) ---function best during the DAY-TIME, in FULL LIGHT

Radio excerpt: • Radio. Lab’s podcast Colors min. 9: 15 – 18: 15

How We See Colored Surfaces

Additive LIGHT System vs. Subtractive PIGMENT System

Traditional Color Circle [SUBTRACTIVE]

Red, YELLOW & Blue (RYB): 3 Primaries of Pigment

Why are PIGMENTs part of the SUBTRACTIVE System?

CMYK color model (four process colors) Color printing uses these 4 ink colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black). When CMY “primaries” are combined, the resulting “secondary” mixtures are: red, green, & blue.

Theoretically … 3 Primary PIGMENTS mixed together create: • R+Y+B = Black • Only when you SUBTRACT one pigment, subtract another pigment, subtract all pigments… do you reach WHITE, returning to that single ray of light… • LESS LIGHT is reflected; the color becomes DARKER. You are essentially SUBTRACTING the amount of light reflected.

Computer Color “All computer monitors display colors by actual Additive colored Light…. Essentially, a color monitor paints and draws with light” • • • 16 million colors+! Color Monitors are GRIDs of pixels PIXELS = 3 phosphors: RGB Electron beams pump phosphors LCD: Liquid Crystal Display (flat monitors) NO flickering, less distortion. Bends/twists light to display colored images. • LED: Light Emitting Diodes—backlit, produce brighter colors, sharper images

Simulated Transparency Exercises: 1) Intro. Adobe Illustrator, colored gels 2) In AI: using geometric shapes, create overlaps, changing opacity to simulate transparency 3) Practice in Color-Aid: reproduce at least one overlap created in AI (two colors + overlap creates 3 rd color)

GROUP PROJECT: a collaborative design on simulated transparency • Color-Aid: Pick a few analogous and a few complementary colors (6 maximum base hues) • Using Geometric OR Organic shapes, design a dynamic interplay of positive/negative spaces and shapes (rotate, re-orient, change scale of shapes to provoke movement & rhythm) • One SHARED SHAPE with neighboring design • Create a minimum of 4 OVERLAPS: 4 Simulated Transparencies *Examples on color site