Unexpected colored shadows: beyond simple additive color mixtures

J.L. Nieves, J.A. García, J. Romero


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Base Information

Volume

V48 - N2 / 2015 International Year of Light

Reference

153-158

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.7149/OPA.48.2.153

Language

Spanish / Español

Keywords

Color Vision, Color, Optics Education, Optics Experiments.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to clarify the difference between two color phenomena: the shadow color, which adds color to the shadows, and the colored shadows, which appears due to the context effect on the color perception. A laboratory photograph is introduced to illustrate the colored shadow effect and how this perceptual effect cannot be explained using classical colorimetry. A yellow colored shadow is observed when two separate white and blue lights illuminate a blank screen and an obstacle occludes part of the light impinging on the screen, and the Retinex Theory is used to explain that phenomenon.

References

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