Summarizing Color and Color Vision
Color and Color Vision Summary
- The eye has four types of light receptors—rods and three types of color-sensitive cones.
- The rods are good for night vision, peripheral vision, and motion changes, while the cones are responsible for central vision and color.
- We perceive many hues, from light having mixtures of wavelengths.
- A simplified theory of color vision states that there are three primary colors, which correspond to the three types of cones, and that various combinations of the primary colors produce all the hues.
- The true color of an object is related to its relative absorption of various wavelengths of light. The color of a light source is related to the wavelengths it produces.
- Color constancy is the ability of the eye-brain system to discern the true color of an object illuminated by various light sources.
- The retinex theory of color vision explains color constancy by postulating the existence of three retinexes or image systems, associated with the three types of cones that are compared to obtain sophisticated information.
Glossary
hues
identity of a color as it relates specifically to the spectrum
rods and cones
two types of photoreceptors in the human retina; rods are responsible for vision at low light levels, while cones are active at higher light levels
simplified theory of color vision
a theory that states that there are three primary colors, which correspond to the three types of cones
color constancy
a part of the visual perception system that allows people to perceive color in a variety of conditions and to see some consistency in the color
retinex
a theory proposed to explain color and brightness perception and constancies; is a combination of the words retina and cortex, which are the two areas responsible for the processing of visual information
retinex theory of color vision
the ability to perceive color in an ambient-colored environment
This lesson is part of:
Vision and Optical Instruments