Colour perception in humans, as you probably know, is facilitated by cones [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cone_cell] within the human eye. Each cone detects a specific wavelength of light (red, green or blue) and then the brain interprets the combination of incoming wavelengths as a colour. Each cone can distinguish between about 100 hues, and so a human with three cone types (trichromacy) can see a million different colours!
This shit fascinates me.
Recently I've been getting into tetrachromacy (a fourth cone within the eye, only naturally occuring as a mutation in women [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/some-women-may-see-100-million-colors-thanks-to-their-genes-450179/]), as well as the theory that humans are "blocked tetrachromats [http://neuronresearch.net/vision/files/tetrachromat.htm]" (ie., we have receptors able to detect incoming UV light in our eyes, but the alcohols in our lens absorb it to protect the retina).
Did you know that van Gogh is now theorised by many to have been partially colour-blind [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2194293/How-insight-Van-Goghs-vision-shape-understanding-colour-blindness--change-view-Masters-work.html]? And that his paintings look significantly different when viewed from the perspective of a colour-blind person?
Most interestingly of all... I've begun to realise that even in normal humans our perceptions of colour vary slightly.
Take my blueish-green kitchen floor for example. My sister keeps telling me that the floor is blue, or at least significantly more blue than green. But from my perspective... it's almost totally green. I can hardly see any blue in it at all.
So that got me thinking... are the green/blue cones in my eyes stronger/weaker respectively than hers? Or is what I perceive to be green simply different to what she would perceive it to be?
Does she classify what I would call green as blue? Or are we actually seeing totally different colours and yet holding them to the same predetermined standard (implying a physiological disparity)?...
I'd like to get the opinions and experiences of fellow Escapists!
EDIT: Really interesting site I found [http://www.diycalculator.com/sp-cvision.shtml]!
This shit fascinates me.
Recently I've been getting into tetrachromacy (a fourth cone within the eye, only naturally occuring as a mutation in women [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/some-women-may-see-100-million-colors-thanks-to-their-genes-450179/]), as well as the theory that humans are "blocked tetrachromats [http://neuronresearch.net/vision/files/tetrachromat.htm]" (ie., we have receptors able to detect incoming UV light in our eyes, but the alcohols in our lens absorb it to protect the retina).
Did you know that van Gogh is now theorised by many to have been partially colour-blind [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2194293/How-insight-Van-Goghs-vision-shape-understanding-colour-blindness--change-view-Masters-work.html]? And that his paintings look significantly different when viewed from the perspective of a colour-blind person?
Most interestingly of all... I've begun to realise that even in normal humans our perceptions of colour vary slightly.
Take my blueish-green kitchen floor for example. My sister keeps telling me that the floor is blue, or at least significantly more blue than green. But from my perspective... it's almost totally green. I can hardly see any blue in it at all.
So that got me thinking... are the green/blue cones in my eyes stronger/weaker respectively than hers? Or is what I perceive to be green simply different to what she would perceive it to be?
Does she classify what I would call green as blue? Or are we actually seeing totally different colours and yet holding them to the same predetermined standard (implying a physiological disparity)?...
I'd like to get the opinions and experiences of fellow Escapists!
EDIT: Really interesting site I found [http://www.diycalculator.com/sp-cvision.shtml]!
True colours:
Found here [http://www.skytopia.com/project/illusion/illusions.html#Eclipse%20of%20Titan].
Allows you to see "true" cyan, green and red respectively, colours that computer monitors cannot reproduce and that are rarely produced by natural objects. The chart on the right of each image demonstrates the limits of a computer monitor...
INSTRUCTIONS: Pick a test. Keep your head completely still and stare at the white dot within the circle on the left (2 minutes or more for best results). Then move your head backwards slowly.
The opposing receptor cones within your eye will be fatigued and you'll cut out colour pollution.
Found here [http://www.skytopia.com/project/illusion/illusions.html#Eclipse%20of%20Titan].
Allows you to see "true" cyan, green and red respectively, colours that computer monitors cannot reproduce and that are rarely produced by natural objects. The chart on the right of each image demonstrates the limits of a computer monitor...
INSTRUCTIONS: Pick a test. Keep your head completely still and stare at the white dot within the circle on the left (2 minutes or more for best results). Then move your head backwards slowly.
The opposing receptor cones within your eye will be fatigued and you'll cut out colour pollution.
Optical illusion:
Found here [http://www.disinfo.com/2012/02/the-forbidden-colors-our-eyes-cant-see/].
Allows some people to see new "impossible colours [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impossible_colors]", similar to the way the human brain perceives pink for example. The colours will be a combination of red/green and blue/yellow respectively, containing visible traces of both primary colours involved but not necessarily brown or green.
INSTRUCTIONS: Pick either the red/green or blue/yellow test. Cross your eyes and overlay the two colours, and a new colour may appear (hasn't worked for me though).
Found here [http://www.disinfo.com/2012/02/the-forbidden-colors-our-eyes-cant-see/].
Allows some people to see new "impossible colours [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impossible_colors]", similar to the way the human brain perceives pink for example. The colours will be a combination of red/green and blue/yellow respectively, containing visible traces of both primary colours involved but not necessarily brown or green.
INSTRUCTIONS: Pick either the red/green or blue/yellow test. Cross your eyes and overlay the two colours, and a new colour may appear (hasn't worked for me though).
