Lightness and Color

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The perception of lightness and color


Determining the origin of brightness and color

Determining the physiological input stage – The eye

Determining the physiological input stage – The retina

Determining the physiological input stage – The photoreceptors in general

Determining the physiological input stage – The cone receptors in particular

First processing stage – Categorization of information

Second processing stage – Conversion of signals into opposite color channels

Like on TV – The reason for the complicated procedure

Third processing stage – Adding a spatial aspect for color

Approximate color constancy does not mean complete color constancy

Fourth processing stage – Generation of impressions

Red is better than blue – Our preference for warm colors

Not yet answered – The question of why

The reproduction of lightness and color

The technical generation and description of brightness and color impressions

RGB, CMYK – Description of impressions in device-dependent reference systems

CIE-Lab – Description of impressions in device-independent reference systems

Color Management – The Perception Algorithms of Machines

Metamerism – Two colors in different light


Lightness and color in photography

Analog image carriers – negative film

Analog image carriers – reversal film

Electronic image carriers and digital technology

Where and What – Brightness and color in image design


Opponent color combinations in image composition

Color contrasts

Complementary contrast

Light-Dark contrast

Cold-Warm contrast

Color in itself contrast

Simultaneous contrast

Quality contrast

Quantity contrast


Constancy excluded – The role of lighting quality

Light also has a temperature

Analog temperature correction

Digital temperature correction

Color saturation

Frequently requested – Stronger color saturation

Film selection

Shooting time

Polarizing filters

Rain, Uniform Light, UV Filters

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Since I started my first website in the year 2000, I’ve written and published ten books in the German language about photographing the amazing natural wonders of the American West, the details of our visual perception and its photography-related counterparts, and tried to shed some light on the immaterial concepts of quantum and chaos. Now all this material becomes freely accessible on this dedicated English website. I hope many of you find answers and inspiration there. My books are on www.buecherundbilder.de

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Thank you!
Jörg