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[F15]Facts About Color Blindness

by Jimmy Cox, Jim

Color is so constantly in evidence in our daily lives that we are inclined to give it almost no conscious attention. We merely accept color, failing not so much in our appreciation of its beauty - for we all like cooler - as in a full realization of what an important part it plays in our daily lives.

Color is a thing to admire consciously or openly only now and then, when particularly called to our attention, as in a sunset or a striking painting. Actually, however, even though we do not realize it, color influences us during practically every waking moment.

We are more contented in harmoniously colored rooms of reasonably distinct hue than in those which are drab; on the contrary, we are disturbed by interiors which are gaudy and crude. We admire clothes of beautiful color and like to have colorful things about us such as books, flowers and pictures. We like the outdoors for its green trees, blue skies and purple hills. Even our food is more appetizing when it is attractive in color than when it is neutral in tone. As color affects our happiness, it in turn affects our health, so its effects are far reaching.

Not the least of its merits is that color serves us in many practical ways. It aids us, for instance, in distinguishing one object from another at a glance, as is illustrated when we go to the bookcase to select some familiar volume. It helps us to know whether fruits or vegetables are unripe, ripe or spoiled; whether food is raw, sufficiently cooked or overdone; whether objects are extremely hot or cold.

It guides us in judging many conditions of sickness and health. It aids us in determining comparative distances. A moment's contemplation brings to mind numerous ways in which color serves us. There is scarcely a phase of existence not affected by color in some way.

Color becomes so much a part of us, despite our customary lack of conscious appreciation of it, that should we suddenly become unable to distinguish one hue from another, we would immediately realize our deep loss. The world would offer, instead of its accustomed harmony of many colors, much the neutrality of a black-and-white photograph. It would be a gray world indeed, both figuratively and literally.

Just as color interests and pleases us today, so it apparently affected primitive man. At least, we have ample evidence of the constant use of pigments from the earliest known times. Not only was the humble home, together with its implements and utensils, embellished in gorgeous hues, but its inhabitants employed colors lavishly both on their clothing and their bodies.

The male of the species, contrary to our present custom, went forth, especially when in battle array, dressed, accoutered and adorned in the most vivid colorings imaginable, doubtless to his own great delight, and supposedly to the consternation of his enemy.

If from this early starting point we should trace the gradual progress of mankind, we would find this same love of color manifesting itself over and over again. At the time of the ancient Egyptians, Persians and Assyrians, for instance, color was still used in abundance, yet with an increased restraint and appreciation consistent with the development of civilization as a whole.

From those days of thousands of years ago to the present, color has continued to occupy the attention of man, who has ever sought to wrest its secrets from nature. With the advance of science, the speculation of the ancient has given way to the intelligent research and experimentation of the trained investigator.

Especially during the last century or two have physicists, physiologists, and more recently, psychologists studied the problems of light and color and the processes of vision. Nor have the chemists been idle in the meanwhile, for under them a sound advance has been made in the discovery and perfection of pigments. The colorists in various fields have done their part by putting these pigments to all sorts of uses, seeking at the same time laws regarding their harmonious application.

Our world indeed would be poorer if we did not have the outstanding qualities given to it by color.

Approximately seven million different colors can be perceived by the human eye, so deciding what you want when decorating, and narrowing your choice down to one color family, still leaves you with millions of variations to choose from. So it's important to understand the effects of the temperature of color, color components, color terminology, how light affects color and the tricks color can play on color.

A color is described as cool or warm depending on its position in the color spectrum and the hues of its nearest neighboring color.

Warm colors project the hot hues of sunlight and promote a feeling of warmth in a room. They advance space and are used to make walls appear closer. Cool colors reflect the fresh violets and blues of moonlight. They enhance the space in a room by making the walls appear further away.

Red, orange and yellow are warm colors, while violet and blue are cool colors. Green is said to be the most neutral color.

Colors are further categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

Primary colors are blue, red and yellow. These are pure colors that have no component other than themselves.
Secondary colors are orange, green and purple. These are composed of the primary colors on either side of it on the color wheel. i.e. Orange = red+yellow, Green = blue+yellow, Purple = blue+red.

Tertiary colors are orange-red, orange-yellow, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple, and red-purple. Tertiary colors assume more of one color than the other.

Knowing the definition of words used to describe color will help you to indicate your color preference more easily, so some important terminology or jargon to keep in mind when describing color is hue, value and chroma.

Hue refers to, and is another name for, color. For example a blue-patterned carpet has a blue hue.

Value describes the darkness or lightness of a color. A color light in value has been diluted with white. For example, pink is a tint of red that has a light value, because of the white added to it. A dark value color is closer to black on the scale, because it's had black added to it. For example burgundy is a shade of red with dark value.

Chroma refers to the intensity of a color, how bright or dull it is. Scarlet and brick red are similar in value, but their intensity differs. Brick red is duller as it has a lower chroma than scarlet.

Scarlet has a higher chroma so is more brilliant. Colors with low chroma have more of other colors added to them; those with high chroma are more pure.

Color complements are those colors that work well together. They are diagonally opposite each other on the color wheel. Each complement is made up of the two primary colors either side of it which balances the complement. Each warm color has a cool color as its complement.

Light affects color because in seeing color it's actually light waves that our eyes perceive. Something has color because of the light it reflects. We all see color slightly differently depending on the perception of the light and color-sensitive receptors in our eyes. So the ability to see color is a sensation, just like smelling or tasting.

Color can play tricks on color. Just as warm colors can make a room appear smaller and cosier, cool colors have the effect of making a space seem larger, more airy.

One corner of a room painted red for example, may appear a different shade from the rest of the room. This is because colors reflect color and light, which slightly changes its appearance and the way our eyes perceive the color. Contrasting color painted on walls that meet in a corner can sometimes be changed so much that they are no longer in harmony with each other. It's advisable to paint a test patch 12” wide on each side of the corner to view what affect your chosen colors have on each other, before painting the entire room.

Most colors are associated with certain emotions, and this differs somewhat from culture to culture. However I've listed some of the most popular color associations.

Red: power, passion, courage, vitality, excitement, strength, speed, love, heart and warmth.

Yellow: light, cheer, sunlight, happiness, creativity, confidence, self-esteem, intellect, innovation.

Blue: caring, devotion, trust, wisdom, peacefulness, serenity, loyalty, truth, coolness, harmony.

Green: nature, fresh, growth, abundance, life, youth, renewal, hope, fertility, peace, balance.

Orange: energy, warmth, contentment, fruitfulness, strength, security, sensuality, abundance.

White: pure light, energy, truth, perfection, serenity, harmony, loyalty, sincerity, clarity.

Black: formal, reserved, drive, dignity, reliability, authority, power, prudence, wisdom, glamour.

Take some time to consider the effects of color on the individuals who will be frequenting the environment you create when decorating. When choosing color take into account whether you are trying to soothe or stimulate, and be aware of the effects of color on the well-being of the inhabitants you are decorating for.

Article Source : Journal Of Counseling Psychology

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Both Jimmy Cox & Nell Frances are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jimmy Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Horse Racing and Investments. Are You Using A Paint Color Chart Yet? You Should Be!Click here for FREE online ebook!