Chapter 1 Introduction of Lighting
Chapter 5Color1
There are no colorsName assigned to wavelength or combination of
wavelengthsVary somewhat by culturePsychological associations
Red
Stimulant
Heals the creative, reproductive systems. Stimulates circulation
of blood and flow of adrenaline. Energizes, gives confidence, and
courage.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments: Red
is an arousing, exciting, and stimulating color. Red is perhaps the
most dominant and dynamic of all colors. It grabs the attention and
overrules all other hues.
Orange
Stimulant
Helps digestion, assimilation of new ideas, removes repression
and inhibitions. Broadens the mind, helps you cope with life and
career.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments:
Orange has an identity crisis, being second to red. Bright orange
appears exciting and stimulating. Light orange is cheering.
Psychologically, browner oranges can be linked with comfort and
security (earthy).
Yellow
Stimulant
Heals nervous system, elimination, liver, intestines, pancreas.
Balances adrenal glands, heals skin troubles, diabetes. Stimulates
intellect.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments:
Reflective and luminous, yellow is the happiest of all colors. It
is used in packaging to express activity and cheerfulness. However,
when it is too strong and glaring it becomes egocentric and reminds
us of insane laughter.
Green
Balances Energies
Creates balance of energy. Heals the heart, circulatory system.
Helps you overcome fear of giving, sharing, adaptability.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made
Environments:Green is a mixture of the cheerfulness of yellow and
the dignity of blue. In its effect, light green is retiring, and in
its pure state relaxing. Psychologically tranquil, refreshing,
quiet, and natural versus common, tired, and guilty.
Blue
Coolant
Fights infections. Heals throat, fevers, etc.. Gives peace of
mind.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments:
Somewhat the peacemaker. It has a relaxing effect, evoking
calmness, security, comfort, sobriety, and contemplation. However,
it can be frightening, depressing, and cold. Tranquility and truth.
Dignity and poise.
Indigo
Coolant
Develops psychic perception and intuition.Heals eyes, ears,
nose, and mental problems.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments: A
mixed color, that has properties similar to violet. It can appear
strict and foreboding. It can also symbolize internalization and
depth of feeling, as well as dignity, wealth, mysticism, and
magic.
Violet
Coolant
Brings spiritual peace. Heals insomnia, tumors of the brain.
Calms highly-strung, excitable people.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments:A
blend of red and blue; the two colors that are physically and
psychologically opposed. Offers impression of being regal,
dignified, and exclusive, but can also have lonely and mournful
associations. Clerical color of integrity.
White
Light and goodness.
White represent light, the celestial, spiritual, hope, holiness,
and innocence.
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments: A
In opposition to black, white is goodness. Black is evil. White is
YES and black is NO. Psychologically, white in its cleanliness, is
sterile and clean. Feelings of detachment. Life is color, not
detachment.
Black
Darkness.
Black is ominous, the fear of the unknown, the dark of night,
grief, and death. A pejorative when used as an adjective in
expressions (black sheep, black market, etc.)
Mahnke and Mahnke, Color and Light in Man-made Environments:
Black identifies power. The power to induce fear. For teenagers,
black is a sign of defiance, in the search for independence.
Priests wear it as a sign o self-denial. In fashion, it expresses
status, elegance, richness, and dignity.
ChromotherapyThe ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Indians
believed in healing with colors.
12What is Light? Light is a form of energy that is part of the
electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye
What is Light?Lumen (lm):Unit for measuring the quantity of
light emitted by a light sourceLight level or illuminance that
falls on a surface can also be measured in footcandles or
lux:Footcandle (fc) Unit of illuminance equal to the amount of
light that falls on a surface in a one-foot radius from the
sourceLux (lx) The International System of Units (SI) unit of
illuminance14
Chapter 5 Color 2006 Fairchild Publications, Inc.16Perceived
Object ColorThe object Texture of the objectBackgroundLamp
LuminaireEyesColor constancyBrainSize of the roomLight
directionIntensity of the lampDistance of the light source from the
object
Chapter 5 Color 2006 Fairchild Publications, Inc.18Light Source
ColorMetamerism:Two samples match under one light source, but not
under a different light sourceSpectral-power distribution
curves:Profile of color characteristics of lamps correlated with
radiant power
Vision and LightingLight enters eye through lens, lands on
retinaRods and cones (detector cells) in the back of the
retina:Rods select lower illuminance levels Cones work with bright
light, color, and detailCones and rods convert light energy into
nerve impulses Optic nerve sends impulses from the retina to the
brain for interpretation 2006 Fairchild Publications, Inc.22
23
A circular field of approximately 6 mm around the fovea is
considered the central retina while beyond this is peripheral
retina stretching to the ora serrata, 21 mm from the center of the
optic disc. The total retina is a circular disc of approximately 42
mm diameter. (Polyak, 1941; Van Buren, 1963; Kolb, 1991). The human
eye contains over 200 million photoreceptors
The retina is approximately 0.5 mm thick and lines the back of
the eye. The optic nerve contains the ganglion cell axons running
to the brain and, additionally, incoming blood vessels that open
into the retina to vascularize the retinal layers and neurons (Fig.
1.1). A radial section of a portion of the retina reveals that the
ganglion cells (the output neurons of the retina) lie innermost in
the retina closest to the lens and front of the eye, and the
photosensors (the rods and cones) lie outermost in the retina
against the pigment epithelium and choroid. Light must, therefore,
travel through the thickness of the retina before striking and
activating the rods and cones (Fig. 1.1). Subsequently the
absorbtion of photons by the visual pigment of the photoreceptors
is translated into first a biochemical message and then an
electrical message that can stimulate all the succeeding neurons of
the retina. The retinal message concerning the photic input and
some preliminary organization of the visual image into several
forms of sensation are transmitted to the brain from the spiking
discharge pattern of the ganglion cells.
Color RenderingHow colors appear under a certain sourceColor
Rendering Index (CRI) a scale of 1-100Daylighting is the standard,
and equals 100Related to color temperature Colors will be perceived
as more natural with different combinationsHigh temperature high
level of illuminance (think of Best Buy)Low temperature and low
level of illuminance (think of a romantic restaurant) Comparisons
should be within 300K
Chromaticity (Color Temperature)Describes how a light or light
source appears when its onMeasured in Degrees Kelvin (K)Based on a
reference black body radiatorAbsolute zero is 273KAs object gains
temperature, the light it emits changes colorRed @ 800K, white @
5000K, blue @ 6000K
Perceived warmth or coolth of a source in degrees Kelvin
Chapter 5 Color 2006 Fairchild Publications, Inc.27Chromaticity
and CRI
AdaptationEye alters itself to the amount of brightness entering
the pupilTakes time to occurAffects of aging can be dramatic28
29The dreaded white-dog effect patterns in the architecture of
your designs cause a reaction in those that inhabit them
30How many straight lines do you see?
PrecedentsColor of lightColor of materials
Lumiere Beauty Salon, Providence, RI
Hotel Semiramos, Athens Greece
Colors in interior finishesCharacteristics of materialOptimal
lighting conditionsTextureColor
