Abstract

Three color-normal observers described the appearance pf colors in conditions of temporal induction. One of four inducing fields (unique blue, unique green, unique yellow, unique white) was foveally viewed for 5 s followed immediately by a reference stimulus of the same size (0.75°) and spatial location as the inducing field. After presentation of this temporal sequence, the observers described the reference stimulus by assigning percentages to the terms red, green, yellow, blue, black, and white. The reference stimulus was 3 or 5 trolands and appeared achromatic to the observer when viewed without the inducing field. The inducing field ranged in intensity from −0.4 to 3.2 log td. At the low illuminance levels the reference stimulus changed its appearance; both chromatic and achromatic color induction occurred. As the illuminance of the inducing field increased, the reference stimulus gradually became blacker and the chromatic components less prominent. The retinal illuminance level at which the reference stimulus appeared 100% black was the same for the four different inducing fields.

© 1987 Optical Society of America