Light is necessary to our perception of color. This is why we don’t see colors in the dark, only shades of grey. It‘s all based on the composition of light and how it is reflected.

Ultra-violet or infra-red electromagnetic waves are outside the visible spectrum for human beings and are therefore not visible. The visible spectrum range for humans is from 400 nm (nanometer) to 750 nm. Light is composed of electromagnetic waves. Not all these waves are visible to the naked eye. Those that are, are what we perceive as visible light. Color, or our perception of color, is a result of the way in which an object absorbs and reflects light. The color impression that our brain generates depends on which wavelengths of the visible light spectrum are reflected by an object.

Receding and Advancing Spaces 1

Receding and Advancing Spaces 2

Light to Dark Contrast 1

Light to Dark Contrast 2

Light to Dark Contrast 3

Light to Dark Contrast 4

Contrast of Saturation

Light to Dark Contrast 5

Warm to Cool Contrast 1

Warm to Cool Contrast 2

Triad against white background

Triad against black background

Triad

Complementary Contrast

Simultaneous Contrast

Light Reflectance Values

CD Spectrometer