Colour Appearance

Colour appearance is about how we perceive and experience colour, not only in terms of the colours themselves, but also how they are presented in a particular environment. A variety of factors such as light, surrounding colours, background and the size and shape of objects affect the appearance of colour. This perception exists in the observer, not in the physical stimulus. This is crucial to understanding how the physical image on the retina is transformed into the image we perceive mentally. This process, which allows us to recognise other people’s faces, navigate and even judge the ripeness of fruit, is based on the biological response that occurs when light enters the eye.