Color (source code)

= Color

<Color> is a perceptual attribute arising from the <optical spectrum> reaching an observer and the observer's visual processing and viewing conditions. <Cone cells> have overlapping <spectral sensitivities>, so their responses do not provide a separate measurement of every <wavelength>. Different <optical spectra> can therefore produce the same <color> match, an instance of <metamerism>.

For a transmitting sample, the incident <optical spectrum> is modified by wavelength-dependent <transmittance>. Removing part of the blue band can make the remaining <light> appear yellow, but the absorption maximum alone does not specify the resulting shade. Changing the illuminant or background can change <color appearance> without changing the sample.