Color Algebra

  • S = P, means spectrum S and spectrum P are perceived as the same color

  • if (S = P) then (N + S = N + P)

  • if (S = P) then aS = aP, for scalar a

  • It is meaningful to write linear combinations of colors T = aA + bB

  • Color percepion is three-dimensional, any color C can be constructed as the superposition of three primaries:
    C = rR + gG + bB

  • Focus on "unit brightness" colors, for which r+g+b=1, these lie on a plane in 3D color space

Lecture 2 Slide 26b 6.837 Fall '01