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Color Spectrum

Color Theory: A Brief Review

Introduction

Knowledge of color perception and color theories won't make you a great artist or photographer. Nor is it a necessary requisite to becoming skilled with digital manipulations of images. However, the knowledge can make you more efficient in achieving your results in these endeavors. In other words, you might not get better because you understand color, but you might get the results you want faster if you do. You will understand why color does not always appear to behave in a logical, or expected, manner. Much of it is about perception and how we see and interpret color.

Some sections of this review contain color demonstrations of color perception. Although the color display and accuracy among computer monitors varies, sometimes considerably, the demonstrations should be effective for everyone. The examples shown have been prepared at D65 (a color temperature designation) on a calibrated display. Some monitors leave the factory at D75 or higher (I've seen 9300 Kelvin, or D93). They will yield a slightly cooler presentation, but the examples will still be clear and effective. For some examples, the more important issue is monitor gamma, the non-linear response from light to dark. Because the PC is the overwhelmingly dominant computer, it's gamma has become the de facto standard. The Mac standard gamma will display lighter values at the dark end of the gray scale. Sun systems will be slightly darker there. These difference are less pronounced at the lighter values. If examples about color "value" do not appear to match the description in the text, the cause is most likely a gamma issue. And, although the PC standard gamma is 2.2, the systems don't always deliver. Color and gamma on uncalibrated monitors is YOYEATYC: You Open Your Eyes And Take Your Chances. Most monitors do a reasonable job until we start getting fussy.

In spite of it all, I think you'll find the information useful and interesting.


This article is divided into several sections:

The sections will be posted as they are completed, and progress toward that end will move along as time permits. I would like to have it completed by the end of the year, but that's probably too optimistic. If you want to send me bundles of money so that I don't have to do other things, it might go faster. On the other hand, I might just take the money and go to the Bahamas for the winter -- but I would send you a post card. Honest.