Some questions about color

Be prepared to discuss in class on Thursday, February 17

CS 99D - The Science of Art
Winter Quarter, 2000
Marc Levoy
Handout #9

Pretend that you are a Renaissance painter. You just finished reading Leonardo's introductory comments on color (p. 70-76), and you are trying to decide if he is right. Attempting not to use any knowledge you may have of modern scientific color theory, try to answer the following questions. You do not have to turn in your answers; just be prepared to state and defend them in class. Since you will spend the last part of the quarter working on your final project, this quickie warm-up exercise on color is the only work I will require on the topic of color.

Do you agree with Leonardo's definition of "simple" colors? (p. 72)
How would you explain the complementary effects that he observes? (p. 73)
Why do we not see colors in a very dimly illuminated room? (p. 73)
Why does a surface that appears colored in a moderately dimly illuminated room turn colorless when viewed through an aperture from a bright room? (p. 74)
How can you see a body "wholly in its natural color?" (p. 74)

Here are a few other questions (not from Leonardo) that I would like you to think about:

How many primaries are there? What are they? (p. 72)
What defines a purely white source of illumination?
What are the appropriate color scales for use by painters?
What shape should the color solid be? Why?

levoy@cs.stanford.edu