Colours

Colours comprise a ‘package’ of light at different wavelengths, and the perception of colours is dependent on both the adaptation level and contrast in the perceived image.

                                         Fig 15

If the contrast level drops the colours will be washed out – like pouring water into a glass of red wine.

Without black (i.e. darkness) there would be no colours.

The actual balance of colours in a given light source is described as the colour temperature measured in degrees Kelvin.

Pure white daylight has a colour temperature of 5600 Kelvin whereas standard TV studio lighting has a colour temperature of 3200 Kelvin. The lower the colour temperature, the greater the dominance at the red side of the spectru