Abstract

The chromaticity of an element in any visual scene is established with minimum power input to the eye when light from the element is composed of a mixture of spectral colors near 450, 540, and 610 nm. In white light, these are chromatically the most effective wavelengths for color discrimination of illuminated objects. Least-effective wavelengths are near 500 and 580 nm; these are shown to be harmful in the sense of causing confusion. Various experiments indicate that three-color response of human vision consists of well-separated channels peaking near 450, 540, and 610 nm. This response is related to the color-matching functions of the 1931 CIE Standard Observer and to brightness per watt of spectral colors.

© 1972 Optical Society of America

Luminosity and Color-Rendering Capability of White Light

W. A. Thornton
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 61(9) 1155-1163 (1971)

Color-Discrimination Index

W. A. Thornton
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62(2) 191-194 (1972)

Adequateness of Using 12 Metameric Gray Object Colors in Appraising the Color-Matching Property of Lamps

Y. Nayatani and K. Takahama
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62(1) 140-143 (1972)

Heterochromatic additivity, foveal spectral sensitivity, and a new color model*

Sherman L. Guth and Howard R. Lodge
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(4) 450-462 (1973)

Photochromatic Interval during Dark Adaptation and as a Function of Background Luminance*

Lothar Spillmann and Jane E. Conlon
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62(2) 182-185 (1972)