We tend to think of objects as having fixed colors-an apple, for example, is red. In reality, an object’s appearance results from the way it reflects the particular light that is falling on it. Under white light, the apple appears red because it tends to reflect light in the red portion of the spectrum and absorbs light of other wavelengths. If a filter is used to remove red from light source, the apple reflects very little and appears black. The fact that the color makeup of light can change, therefore means that shifts can occur in the color appearance of objects illuminated by it. Within limits, the brain compensates for these changes in color appearance and we see things as we expect them to appear. But the changes are there nonetheless and can affect the way people respond to objects and environments.
We tend to think of objects as having fixed colors-an apple, for example, is red. In reality, an object’s appearance results from the way it reflects the particular light that is falling on it. Under white light, the apple appears red because it tends to reflect light in the red portion of the spectrum and absorbs light of other wavelengths. If a filter is used to remove red from light source, the apple reflects very little and appears black. The fact that the color makeup of light can change, therefore means that shifts can occur in the color appearance of objects illuminated by it. Within limits, the brain compensates for these changes in color appearance and we see things as we expect them to appear. But the changes are there nonetheless and can affect the way people respond to objects and environments.
