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 doesn't 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