Light
The physical and perceptual basis of color as emitted, reflected, filtered, and seen.
Ancient optics to modern screens Emission, reflection, spectrum, perception
Open theory page →Seeing and systems
Color Theory
Browse theories of light, perception, optics, design, and digital color systems.
Pigment
A material explanation of pigment color: particles mixed with binders and seen through reflected light.
Prehistoric onward Particles, binders, surfaces, reflected light
Open theory page →RGB
The screen-based color model built from red, green, and blue light.
Modern / digital Additive light model
Open theory page →CMY
The cyan, magenta, and yellow system behind subtractive printing logic.
Modern / print Subtractive print model
Open theory page →Newton’s Spectrum
A turning point where white light became separable, measurable, and arranged into a spectrum.
Early modern Optics
Open theory page →Goethe’s Color Theory
A poetic and perceptual counterpoint to purely optical explanations of color.
Modern Perception and art
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