Models for the color continuum and subsets thereof

Abstract

Computer generation of color patterns, has revived interest in various classical models for color distribution (triangular, circular, pyramidal, conical, spherical etc.). The oldest model is the color spectrum displayed in the heavens by the rainbow: heme frequencies of the refracted visible light determine the color variations. Newton, by observing sunlight passing through a prism developed a down to earth model to demonstrate colors obtained by separating white light into its components. The properties of colors generated by combining primary colored lights (the additive system with primary components, red, green, and blue) were discovered to be different from those in the subtractive system of pigments where reflected light has colors filtered out by pigment combinations used. Here, the primary colors ape cyan, magenta and yellow, respectively. The author will display dual models generated on the Intecolor 8051 for these two systems. I In the additive model, 000 is assigned to black, the console color when no light is present and ill is assigned to white, where the three primaries are supplied in equal strength. In the subtractive system, 000 is assigned to white for the fully reflective surface and Ill, to black which is obtained by filtering with all three pigments covering the white base. The table below shows the duality between the systems. Lights On Additive Binary Notation Subtract&ve Colors Filtered Out none null black 000 white null none red only primary red 001 cyan pmimary red filtered out green only primary green 010 magenta primary green filtered out red E green secondary yellow 0il blue secondary red & green out blue primary blue I00 yellow primary blue filtered out blue % red secondary magenta I01 green secondary red & blue out blue & green secondary eyan II0 red secondary green ~ blue out all universe white III black universe all filtered out The interpretations of this model are as follows. In the additive system, the binary numbers show which of the blue, green or red light guns are turned on to produce the desired light status on a black cathode ray tube screen. In the subtractive system, the three digits from left to right tell you which additive primary colors are filtered out in the pigments combined to produce color reflections when applied to a white reflecting canvas. The author has been concerned with the use of color as the third dimension in displaying properties of mathematical functions, inequalities, …