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Effect of Subtense and Surround Luminance on the Perception of a Coloured Field
Author(s) -
Troscianko T. S.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
color research and application
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.393
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1520-6378
pISSN - 0361-2317
DOI - 10.1002/col.5080020402
Subject(s) - luminance , chromatic scale , observer (physics) , perception , colour difference , computer science , computer vision , colour vision , chromatic adaptation , optics , artificial intelligence , physics , mathematics , psychology , neuroscience , quantum mechanics
It is recognized that a coloured field in a dark surround is perceived as having a lower saturation than that same colour viewed in a light surround, but that this effect is diminished in magnitude if the colour forms part of a complex scene. The object of the present study is to show how the desaturating effect of a dark surround varies as (a) the surround is separated from the coloured field by a uniform grey field, and (b) the angular subtense of the chromatic field is reduced. It is shown that both these factors have a significant effect on the perceived saturation, but that the extent of the change depends on the luminance of the chromatic field. There is some indication that the extent of desaturation is dependent on which colour‐difference mechanism is predominantly excited when the coloured area is viewed. Practical applications of the results, particularly with reference to the viewing of photographs, are considered. The variability inherent in the experiment, in which there was no satisfactory control over the observer's state of adaptation, means that the results described in this paper should be regarded as those of a pilot study. Work is currently in progress to further quantify the effects described here.