Light and Color Science
complementary colors
A primary and a secondary color can combine to make white light. Yellow and blue are complementary colors, as are cyan and red, and magenta and green.
Primary colors of pigments
Cyan, yellow, and magenta are the primary colors of pigments. These colors combine in equal amounts to produce black. Many other colors of pigments are produced by combining the primary colors in different amounts
The color of an opaque object
Every opaque object absorbs some wavelengths of light and reflects others. The color of an opaque object is the color of the light it reflects. For example ,an apple appears red because it reflects red wavelengths of light. The apple absorbs the other colors of light. A leaf looks green because it reflects green light and absorbs the other colors.
Classification of materials based on what happens to light that strikes the material
Most materials can be classified as transparent, translucent, or opaque based on what happens to light that strikes the material.
Changing the color of an object by changing the light in which they are seen.
Objects can appear to change color if you view them in a different color of light. In red light, the apple appears red because there is red light for it to reflect. But the leaf appears black because there is no green light to reflect. In green light, the leaf looks green but the apple looks black. And in blue light, both the apple and the leaf look black.
primary colors
RED, GREEN, BLUE, Three colors that combine to make any other color. When combined in equal amounts, the three primary colors of light produce white light. if combined in different amounts, they can produce other colors
the color if a pigment
The color you see is the color of light that the pigment reflects.
Secondary Colors of pigments
The secondary colors of pigments are red, green, and blue.
color filters
Transparent or translucent materials are used to make color filters. For example, a piece of glass or plastic that allows only red light to pass through is a red color filter. When you look at an object through a color filter, the color of the object may appear different than when you see the object in white light The lenses in sunglasses often are color filters. For example, lenses that are tinted yellow are yellow filters. Lenses that are tinted green are green filters. When you put on these tinted sunglasses, some objects appear to change color. The color you see depends on the color of the filter and on the color that the object appears in white light.
secondary colors
Two primary colors combined in equal amounts. YELLOW (red +green) CYAN (green+blue) MAGENTA (red+blue)
The three things that happen when light strikes an object
When light strikes an object, the light can be reflected, transmitted, or absorbed.
pigments
colored substances that are used to color other materials. Inks, Paints and dyes. As pigments are added together, fewer colors of light are reflected and more are absorbed. The more pigments that are combined, the darker the mixture looks.
opaque material
reflects or absorbs all of the light that strikes it. You cannot see through opaque materials because light cannot pass. Wood and metal are opaque materials
translucent material
scatters light as it passes through. You can usually see something behind a translucent object, but the details are blurred. Wax paper and a frosted glass are translucent materials.
the color of a transparent or translucent object
the color of a transparent or translucent object is the color of light it transmits. for example, transparent blue glass looks blue because it transmits only blue light.
transparent material
transmits most of the light that strikes it. The light passes right through without being scattered. Can clearly see what is on the other side. Clear glass, water, and air all are transparent materials.
