Color Mixing & Theory

What is Color?

What is Color? Color is light. Light is energy and travels in waves (according to theory) Light waves originate from a source such as the sun, a light bulb, a fire, etc. In these sources of light, there are many different wavelengths. Wavelength is measured from crest to crest in nanometers (billionths of a meter) or in mill microns (Millionths of a millimeter). The human visible spectrum of color range is considered to be between 380 mill microns and 770 mill microns and is part of the much larger electromagnetic spectrum.

Sir Isaac Newton established that a beam of "colorless" light passing through a prism is refracted or bent into separate bands of colors, in the seventeenth century. These are known as the colors of the visible spectrum. Each color has its own wavelength. When all the wavelengths are combined "white" light is produced. All individual and combinations of colors are inherent in white light. In nature this is seen as a rainbow.

HOW WE SEE COLOR In "white" or "colorless" light all visible colors are contained. With each perceived color light energy travels in waves having a dominant wave length which differs from the wave length of any other perceived color.

Human eyes or vision acts as if it has "color receptors". One set of receptors is sensitive to red wave lengths of light, a second is receptive to green wave lengths, and the third is sensitive to blue-violet wave lengths. When the red and green receptors are stimulated we see yellow. The various colors of the spectrum are seen depending on the strength and mixture of wave lengths which strike our receptors.

We see colorless or white light when our receptors are stimulated equally. Color then is a sensation resulting from light energy impinging on receptors in our eyes which our brain interprets as being various combinations of red, blue and green.

From the foreground it can be seen depending upon the quantity of light and the quality of light available to the viewer. Without any light there is no visual perception at all, let alone of color. (It doesnt take many moments in a pitch black room to prove this to ourselves, or when we see brilliant colors fade to a neutral gray and finally disappear as light diminishes from daylight to dusk to darkness.) Variation in the quality of light influences our perception of color, too. (Have you ever bought a suit that appeared to be of one shade under store lighting but out in the street?)

See illustrations with this article http://www.weprintcolor.com/color_paper/what_is_color.htm Are Color and Mood Connected http://www.weprintcolor.com/moodofcolour.htm Understanding Color http://www.weprintcolor.com/usingcolour2.htm

Robert is regarded as an industry expert is print and design. Online since 1999, Robert was one of the pioneers that brought graphic design tools to the web. For online graphic design solutions visit http://www.weprintcolor.com/