What is color?
Understand how color is created and perceived: from light and wavelength, through the retina and brain, to the way LED lighting affects the appearance of materials, interiors and everyday objects.
What Is Color?
Color is not simply a property of an object. It is an impression created when light interacts with a material surface and the reflected or transmitted radiation reaches the eye and is interpreted by the brain.
Without light, there is no visible color. The same material can therefore look different in daylight, under a warm LED source, and under a cooler light source.
Light source, object and observer
- Light source has a spectral distribution that determines what color information is available.
- Object absorbs, reflects or transmits individual wavelengths to different degrees.
- Observer perceives the result through the eye and brain; adaptation and contrast also affect the final impression.
How Does LED Lighting Affect Color Appearance?
Color vision is primarily enabled by cones in the retina. Wavelength is a physical phenomenon, while color is a perceptual experience. This is why people may assess the same color slightly differently.
Color appearance depends on the surroundings, illumination level, material gloss and source spectrum. Warm light can enhance reds and golden tones, while a source with poor color rendering may make wood, textiles or skin appear unnatural.
RGB and CMYK
RGB is an additive model used by displays, where red, green and blue light build an image. CMYK is a subtractive model used in print, where pigments remove part of the reflected light. As a result, a color seen on screen does not always match a product viewed under real lighting.
What should you consider when choosing lighting?
Do not assess an LED source only by wattage and color temperature. Color rendering quality and the suitability of the light for the intended space are also important. This is particularly relevant in kitchens, bathrooms, wardrobes, retail spaces and display areas.
FAQ
Is color a fixed property of an object? Not entirely. It results from the interaction of material and light, followed by visual interpretation in the brain.
Why can white lamps produce different effects? Two sources described as white can have different spectra and render material colors differently.
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