Our Perception of Color - Research Paper Example

? Color Color Color is a visual perception that corresponds in human to the categories referred to as blue, red, green, yellow and others. Color derives from the distribution of wavelength versus light power (spectrum of light) that interacts in the eye with light receptors’ spectral sensitivities (Farndon, 2003). Physical specifications and categories of color are associated with materials, objects, and light sources based on physical properties of color such as reflection of light, light absorption, or emission spectra. This paper seeks to discuss our perception of color. Color may be quantified and described by the extent to which they stimulate different types of cone cells (Travis, 2003). This is because color perception stems from different spectrum sensitivity of various cone cells in the retina to various parts of the spectrum. The physiological or physical color quantifications do not fully describe the color appearance and its psychophysical perception. The science of color is referred to as chromatography, color science or chromatics (Farndon, 2003). It involves color perception by the brain and human eye. Human perception of color originates from composites of light, photons’ energy spectrum entering the eye. The retina contains photosensitive cells on the back of the eye’s the inner surface. These photosensitive cells are composed of pigments absorbing visible light (Savage, 1998). There are two classes of photosensitive cells: cones and rods. Cones are responsible for human ability to distinguish between various colors (Kleiner, 2004). On the other hand, the rods sense light intensity variations and are effective in dim light. Rods sense the flux of no photon energy, the incident photons. Therefore, whenever there is a dim light, human eye do not perceive colored objects as shades of color, but as shades of grey (Travis, 2003). Diagram of color and light Perception of color in the retina is done by photoreceptor cones which are sensitive to photons whose energy widely extend beyond the green, blue, and red spectrum portions (Kleiner, 2004). Color vision is often possible because of the differing photon energy sensitivity of the sets of cones (Savage, 1998). For every flux of photons or color signal, a ration of response in the different sets of cones is triggered. This ration is what permits color perception. During the day, human vision is effectively mostly in the blue-green where the spectrum of the sun is in its maximum region (Travis, 2003). Color sensation primarily depends on light composition, a mixture of colored light and white light (in itself can be wavelength mixture, like purple’s case) (Farndon, 2003). The colored light may have dominant hue or wavelength. The degree to which the wavelength dominates is referred to as chroma, saturation. This saturation, chroma decreases as the white light deletes the wavelength. There are 3 receptors that respond to various wavelengths in the eye. This results in attempts to chart colors via e primary lights mixture. A good number of colors are produces through mixing lights originating from the 3 primary lights. However, not all colors can be produced in this manner (Savage, 1998). Color vision development in human beings is an interesting process of evolution (Kleiner, 2004). The human eye is not in a linear straightforward development. Development of color vision begins as a light sensitive pigment and then differentiates on a smaller creature to create structures that are sensitive to light (Savage, 1998). These light sensitive structures disperse in the forming eyeball and turns to be the retina. Initially, retina was like a moving sensor. However, it developed the ability to delineate fine details and to see color. The evolution of the eye and color perception is a standard development seen in all vertebrates and many non-vertebrates. So what is color? Why does retina develop ability to see color? (Farndon, 2003). Color is a visual perception that corresponds in human to the categories referred to as blue, red, green, yellow and others. Color derives from the distribution of wavelength versus light power (spectrum of light) that interacts in the eye with light receptors’ spectral sensitivities (Travis, 2003). Light and color are inseparable. The two go together. One object may reflect light while another object can emit that same light. The objects that emit light often go through certain chemical reactions in order to create color. This is dependent on the combusting material for the spectrum color it emits (Farndon, 2003). Examples of such objects include a light bulb, or the sun. These objects which reflect light are formed from combination of light of a range of colors hitting a surface and their reflective properties. Examples include leaves reflecting light to fuel photosynthesis; these objects are also designed to absorb the red light spectrum activating the chemical reaction that turns carbon (II) oxide into oxygen (Savage, 1998). There is often a considerable color variance by the entity that perceives it. Color is a mixed collection of concepts of perceptions generated from data that are sensitive to wavelength, for different specialized functions by cognitive systems. In order to see color, humans have a trichromatic vision. The human eye has 3 color receptors that are sensitive to green, red, and blue light individually. Although this is deceptively simple, the 3 receptors enable human beings to see and differentiate approximately 2.3 million color varieties (Farndon, 2003). Photoreceptor nerve grouping Color may be quantified and described by the extent to which they stimulate different types of cone cells. This is because color perception stems from different spectrum sensitivity of various cone cells in the retina to various parts of the spectrum. Color perception requires the use of light sensing cell. The human eye has rods that function in places with low or dim light and shades of grey (Farndon, 2003). The cones on the other hand are very sensitive to spectrum color of a given wavelength as initially discussed in this paper. Human eye perceive a narrow range of electromagnetic color spectrum between 400 and 700 nanometers (Kleiner, 2004). Physical specifications and categories of color are associated with materials, objects, and light sources based on physical properties of color such as reflection of light, light absorption, or emission spectra (Savage, 1998). Electromagnetic Range of Human Vision, Rods & Cones The color perception in the retina is done by photoreceptor cones which are sensitive to photons whose energy widely extend beyond the green, blue, and red spectrum portions. A good number of colors are produces through mixing lights originating from the 3 primary lights. Color vision is often possible because of the differing photon energy sensitivity of the sets of cones (Kleiner, 2004). While the rods sense light intensity variations and are effective in dim light, Cones are responsible for human ability to distinguish between various colors. Color sensation primarily depends on light composition, a mixture of colored light and white light. The science of color involves color perception by the brain and human eye, and is referred to as chromatography, color science or chromatics (Kleiner, 2004). In conclusion, the color properties that are often distinguishable inherently by the human eye include saturation, hue or wavelength, and brightness. Even though the spectrum colors can be correlated one to one with the hue of the light, the light perception with multiple hues is often more complicated. Research shows that various combinations of wavelengths of light can bring about a common perception of color (Farndon, 2003). Colors also pose a physiological and psychological effect on individuals. Some colors have been associated with various moods. For example, blue is associated with being cool, sober, melancholy, and subduing. It is normally related to sky, cold or water. Red is seen as passionate, fervid, exciting, and active. It is often related to fire, heat, or blood. Green on the other hand has been associated with being peaceful, quiet, and refreshment. It is related to nature (Savage, 1998). References Farndon, J. (2003). Color Vision. Human Body, p57 Kleiner, K. (2004). What We Gave Up For Color Vision. New Scientist, 181. p.12 Savage, C. (1998). In Living Color. Canadian Geographic Annual, 118. P.47 Travis, J. (2003). Visionary Research. Science News, 164 p. 234-236 Read More