|
Defining Color
The perception of color is a phenomenon of light a form of energy with its own frequency and wavelength. Shine a light through a prism and you'll see it divide into six color families: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. White light is the combination of all colors, while black is the absence of all colors. We actually perceive color due to the pigments in a given object. A green pillow appears green to our eyes because the pigment in the pillow is absorbing all of the colors in the light except for the color green, which it is reflecting back to us.
Color and Light
Have you ever tried to match a color swatch to a fabric or carpet in a store, only to find what looks like a completely different color when you actually bring an item home? You've just experienced metamerism. Metamerism is the occurrence of colors seemingly changing when viewed in different light sources. Some colors are more prone to this phenomenon than others such as tan, taupe, grays, grayed-blues, mauve, lilac, and grayed yellow-greens such as celadon.
Color and Space
Space also has an effect on how we perceive color. The larger the space, the more intense color will be perceived. A color that looks rich on a small fabric swatch can appear overwhelming when an entire couch is covered in that same fabric. The same is true of a paint color chip when compared with the same color being applied to an entire wall. Small narrow rooms will intensify color; large open spaces can handle more saturated color.
How Colors Affect Other Colors
The colors that surround a given color affect how we perceive that color. An off-white wall can appear pink when paired with a vibrant red carpet. Complementary colors (red and green for example) tend to enhance each other's color quality. Two squares of the identical shade of gray will appear to differ from one another when one is placed against a white background and the other against a black background. Michel Eugène Chevreul (1786-1889), a French chemist, discovered that our perception of color was influenced by surroundings colors. Chevreul's famous law: "Two adjacent colors, when seen by the eye, will appear as dissimilar as possible," helps to explain why certain colors look more vibrant, or conversely, duller, when paired with other colors.
Resource: Benjamin Moore
Whitman Wallpaper and Paint Co., Inc.
242 Bedford St.
Whitman, MA 02382
Phone: 781-447-4469 ~ Fax: 781-447-4516
2010 Copyright Whitman Wallpaper and Paint Co., Inc.
|
