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THE FOUNDATION

Nature of Color

The Meaning of Color

In the 1987 Color Theory book of George Agoston, color was introduced using different concepts. It
started with the common meaning known to all – color as property of materials and property of light. Color as a
property of materials indicates that an object has its color because it has the property of being that specific
color. For example, a red bag is red because it has the property of being red. Another example is a green mango
which turns yellow and changes its property as it becomes ripe. Meanwhile, color as a property of light concept
happens when light strikes an object which produces the same color on it, it somehow confirms that the light
has a color.
“Perceived color is incorrectly given as a property of materials and as a property of light” (Agoston,
1987, p.5). This stand is backed up by Newton’s statement in his book Opticks (1704), "Indeed, rays, properly
expressed, are not coloured.” Agoston said that the concepts are like the incorrect concept in life that the sun
rises and sets every day. He further suggested that while these concepts serve people in many important ways,
one must be prepared on instances that these concepts do not apply. One example is when a particular hue
changes its color when it is placed in different background with different colors. He also added that the fact that
color may be perceived with the eyes closed or in dreams are obvious situations that color is not a property of
light or material.
In the Color Vision book of L.M. Hurvich, questions to find out the meaning of color were posted. These
were about whether an object has color because of the physical-chemical makeup or illumination that constitutes
it and if color is a photochemical event in the retina, a neural brain-excitation process, or a psychical event. This
is his answer:
‘Color is all these things ... ,’ but he adds that, before exploring these topics, ‘the main point
to be made is that our perception of color ordinarily derives from an interaction between
physical light rays and the visual system of the living organism. Both are involved in seeing objects
and perceiving color.’ (as cited in Agoston, 1987, p.8-9).

Another author, Kuehni (1983) has a psychologically oriented definition of color: "Color ... is an
experience, poetically speaking a flower of our brain activity" (as cited in Agoston, 1987, p.9). His further
discussion about color in the book Color: An Introduction to Practice and Principles states that “color is the result
of the activity of our five senses, vision” (Kuehni, 2005, p. 2). For Kuehni, the dictionary and the scientists’
definition of color are vague and a helpless resort because the essence of the results of the sensory activities,
emotions, or feelings has not yet been successfully defined.
Dictionary definition: “a phenomenon of light (as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception
that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects” (as cited in Kuehni, 2005, p.2).
“Circular” definition: “perceived color is the attribute of visual perception that can be described
by color names: white, gray, black, yellow, orange, brown, red, green, blue, purple, and so
on or by combinations of such names” (as cited in Kuehni, 2005, p.2).
Kuehni (2005) added that the nature of color is a difficult subject, and it is useful to have fuller understanding
first of the causes of color.
Agoston (1983) lastly discussed the meaning of color with the practical answer in technology. Using the
psychophysical approach and quantitative means, color scientists and technologists “define color to be a
characteristic of light, the stimulus (the light that arrives at the retina)” (Agoston, 1987, p.9). Consequently, he
stated:
Color is the characteristic of materials that results in their changing the characteristic of the illuminating
light. Thus, the red color of a traffic light is a characteristic of the light; the green color of a leaf is a

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characteristic of the leaf that produces a change in the characteristic of, say, the daylight in which it is
found. . . . According to this hypothesis, the characteristic (color) of the light is its spectral power
distribution (wavelength composition); the characteristic (color) of an opaque material is its spectral
reflectance distribution, considered along with the characteristic (color) of the light illuminating the
material. (Agoston, 1987, p.9-10)

Agoston (1987) explained that the concept of color in science and technology implies that it is “a set of
data” or “given by numerical data or curves representing the data.”

Uses of Color

• Color can be used as pure function, to increase or reduce available light in living spaces;
Light colors reflect light while dark colors absorb it. Rooms or walls with light colors reflect more
light and illuminate than a room which walls are painted with dark hues.

• Colors can modify the perception of space, creating impressions of size, nearness, separation, or distance;
As it can separate one element from one another, it also creates continuity even with separated
elements and establishes focus or emphasis.

• Color can be a visual expression of mood or emotion;

Saturation and values which show different intensities and contrasts visually communicate and
express various feelings and moods. Colors can also generate or stimulate emotional response
from the viewers.

• Colors can be a nonverbal language; and

Colors are used to symbolize and represent ideas, groups, institutions, nations, and warnings.

• Color identifies.

Records and files of daily life are usually color-coded. Color also associates status of daily tasks or
dues. It can also make distinctions among objects and even people.

(Holtzschue, 2017)
Light and Color

Bleicher (2012) discusses that light as a visible energy makes color

visible to the eye. Without light, no color will be seen. Thus, as the
amount and quality of light changes, the saturation and value of a hue
also change. The time of the day affects color as well as the type of light
(artificial or sunlight) that reflects a material or object.

Notice how the color changes in the landscape at different times of the day as
the amount and quality of the light changes. Top row: 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.; middle
row: noon and 2 p.m.; bottom row: 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Figure 1. Change in Light and Color

Source. Contemporary Color Theory & Use (2nd ed.), 2012, p.5

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LIGHT

PRISM

Cosmic Rays Ultra-Violet Infrared Radar VHF Radio

X-Rays Visible Microwaves Television Long Wave Radio

Spectrum

White light is separated through a prism into the visible

spectrum, which is a small part of the electromagnetic
spectrum

Figure 2. Electromagnetic Spectrum

Source. Color Management & Quality Output, 2014, 2012, p.7

PRISM

A diagram illustrating the electromagnetic spectrum. We can only see a An illustration of Newton’s principle of white light
small portion of the entire spectrum. Some animals and insects can see being broken down into the colors of the spectrum
infrared color wavelengths. after it passes through a prism.

Figure 3. Electromagnetic Spectrum Figure 4. Newton’s Principle

Source. Contemporary Color Theory & Use (2nd ed.), 2012, p.5 Source. Contemporary Color Theory & Use (2nd ed.), 2012, p.6

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“What we are really seeing when we look

at color is the action and reaction of light” (Bleicher, 2012).

Figures 2 and 3 show the different wavelengths or the length of light waves measured in nanometers. The
white light or visible spectrum reflect different hues with violet and blue having the shorter wavelengths while
yellow, orange, and red having the longer wavelengths.

On the other hand, Figures 2 and 4 show Newton’s theory of color which is known to be the modern concept
of the relationship of light and color (Bleicher, 2012). Newton used a prism to demonstrate that white light is
composed of seven (7) visible hues: red, orange, yellow, green, violet, indigo, and blue. As shown in the
figures, “when white light enters a prism, it is refracted or bent as it comes out the other side, and the visible
spectrum of colors is displayed” (Bleicher, 2012).

As white light hits the orange, all of the spectral

hues are absorbed except for the orange hue,
which is reflected, giving the fruit its color and
name.

Figure 5. Light Beams

Source. Contemporary Color Theory & Use (2nd ed.), 2012, p.6

Bleicher (2012) also states that the two (2) parts that make up a reflection or the bouncing of light waves
from a given surface are the incident beam from the light source and the reflected beam which bounces off the
object and shows its hue.

LIGHT SOURCE COLOR

TEMPERATURE
Clear Blue
Sky

Different light sources reflect different hues and

affect how people perceive colors. It also changes the
color temperature. Color temperature is the “varying
blend of spectrum components in different white light
sources and is described in Kelvin” (Ashe, 2014).
Overcast Sky
Tungsten light produces warm color while daylight
produces cool color, which has a higher blue
component, as shown in Figure 6. Photographic
On the other hand, the object hit by a light Flash
source can either absorb or reflect the visible hues
depending on the properties or colorants of the object.
As a principle of color, black objects absorb most or all
light while white objects reflect all light.
Tungsten

Candle Light

Figure 6. Color temperature of different continuous light sources

Source. Color Management & Quality Output, 2014, p.8

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Color Perception

Visual stimulus or the light that enters the eye produces signals and response through sensation, which
makes one aware of color. The color sensation is the first step and foundation to color perception. Perception
is the “attempt to understand and make sense of the stimuli received” (Bleicher, 2012). Perception is more than
just seeing color or being aware of it. Perceiving color is understanding how we see, sense, feel it, or get
influenced by it.

How does the human eye perceive color?

Light enters the pupil and hits the retina at the back of the eyeball,
which contains the rods and cones. These photoreceptors translate
light into electrical impulses. This information is transmitted to the brain
via the optic nerve.

Figure 7. A diagram of a cross-section of the human eye

Source. Contemporary Color Theory & Use (2nd ed.), 2012, p.9

The eye sends the information, but it’s the brain that
interprets the data such as images and colors.

A diagram illustrating the rods and cones that are the actual
photoreceptors in the retina. Rods are long and thin, and cones are
bulgy. Light activates the light sensitive pigments in the rods and
cones.

Figure 8. Rods and Cones

Source. Contemporary Color Theory & Use (2nd ed.), 2012, p.9

The rods cannot perceive color, but they can

function in low light. Their purpose is to read light
and darks, or value. On the contrary, cones
perceive color and needs light to process
information. It’s the reason why color can be hardly
seen at night (Bleicher, 2012).

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References
Agoston, G. A. (1987). Color theory and its application in art and design. New York: Springer-Verlag Berlin
Heidelberg.
Ashe, T. A. (2014). Color management and quality output working with color from camera to display to print.
Oxon: Focal Press.
Bleicher, S. (2012). Contemporary color theory and use (2nd ed.). New York: Cengage Learning .
Holtzschue, L. (2017). Understanding color: An introduction for designers (5th ed.). Hoboken: John Wiley &
Sons.
Kuehni, R. G. (2005). Color: An introduction to practice and principles (2nd ed.). Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=zBZgp8_xkXgC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summa
ry_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

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