Color is a product of the way the eye reflects or emits light. Due to different absorption and/or reflection levels, eyes produce different properties which can result in what individuals call color. Although there are many explanations for how humans can see and distinguish between different colors, research has narrowed it down to two main theories: trichromatic theory and opponent-process theory. Essentially both these theories work in conjunction to each other and explain how humans see and perceive color. The trichromatic theory is the possession of conveying color vision through cones within individuals’ eyes. Trichromatic theory explains the receptor approach of color. Through the different wavelengths, different colors are produced.
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When absorbing wavelengths of other colors, the cones work with each other to portray that color. These three categories are broken up to correspond to differing lengths of waves. The longest one gives off red, the medium wavelength produces green, and the shortest wavelength is blue (Young). The reason there are three distinct categories is because through just these three primaries, matches can be made with any light test. This is what we call the Color Matching Experiment. The color matching experiment goes hand in hand with the trichromatic theory because this experiment displays that three wavelengths are needed to match colors in the visible spectrum (Goldstein). Using the three primaries, red, green, and blue, individuals have three equal energy monochromatic light sources. Using these monochromatic/primaries, eyes adjust how much of each color is needed to produce any color. The color matching experiment uses the trichromatic theory to explain the matches produced by reiterating how the use of different wavelengths produce different colors. This Young-Helmhotz theory explains how individual’s visual receptors work to allow for visual processing for color vision. This theory makes sense because in order for humans to interpret …show more content…
The major difference between the two processes is that the trichromatic process uses visual receptors whereas the opponent-process takes a more neurological approach for explaining color vision. The opponent-process theory stated its purpose and stature in how humans color vision functions (“Theories of Colour Vision”). The opponent-process theory does not counter the trichromatic theory but simply builds upon its core concept. Although the trichromatic theory of color displayed its connection between the three primary colors, the opponent-process theory links opposing color pairs. The opponent-process theory was founded by Ewald Hering. He noted that between the three primary colors, the cone photoreceptors within the individual’s eye formed three separate color pairings. Recorded were the following opposing pairs: blue and yellow, red and green, and white and black. With the knowledge of these three opposing pairs, research was done to help explain why each pair opposed one another. It was discovered that this was done to “reset” the eyes (Hurvich and Jameson). This is necessary as it is important for the eyes to reach the normal levels of color. When one views a color by staring at it, he or she takes in an excess of the waves. This must be reset and the opposite color must be portrayed to reach a balance. In some ways this could be
When absorbing wavelengths of other colors, the cones work with each other to portray that color. These three categories are broken up to correspond to differing lengths of waves. The longest one gives off red, the medium wavelength produces green, and the shortest wavelength is blue (Young). The reason there are three distinct categories is because through just these three primaries, matches can be made with any light test. This is what we call the Color Matching Experiment. The color matching experiment goes hand in hand with the trichromatic theory because this experiment displays that three wavelengths are needed to match colors in the visible spectrum (Goldstein). Using the three primaries, red, green, and blue, individuals have three equal energy monochromatic light sources. Using these monochromatic/primaries, eyes adjust how much of each color is needed to produce any color. The color matching experiment uses the trichromatic theory to explain the matches produced by reiterating how the use of different wavelengths produce different colors. This Young-Helmhotz theory explains how individual’s visual receptors work to allow for visual processing for color vision. This theory makes sense because in order for humans to interpret …show more content…
The major difference between the two processes is that the trichromatic process uses visual receptors whereas the opponent-process takes a more neurological approach for explaining color vision. The opponent-process theory stated its purpose and stature in how humans color vision functions (“Theories of Colour Vision”). The opponent-process theory does not counter the trichromatic theory but simply builds upon its core concept. Although the trichromatic theory of color displayed its connection between the three primary colors, the opponent-process theory links opposing color pairs. The opponent-process theory was founded by Ewald Hering. He noted that between the three primary colors, the cone photoreceptors within the individual’s eye formed three separate color pairings. Recorded were the following opposing pairs: blue and yellow, red and green, and white and black. With the knowledge of these three opposing pairs, research was done to help explain why each pair opposed one another. It was discovered that this was done to “reset” the eyes (Hurvich and Jameson). This is necessary as it is important for the eyes to reach the normal levels of color. When one views a color by staring at it, he or she takes in an excess of the waves. This must be reset and the opposite color must be portrayed to reach a balance. In some ways this could be