Is it true that our perception of colour is strongly affected by the colours surrounding it?

Question

Is it normal and common?

Is it very normal?

Answer 1

Absolutely. The light bouncing off of bnearby colors changes how we percieve a color to be. Our perception is also changed by what colors we expect to see. We see a sheet of normal paper as 'white' until it is placed near another piece and we see it is really light grey.

Another thing that affects us is the 'color' of the light. Fluorescent lighting is usually very blueish, while incandescant is yellowish. The sun is a balanced 'white' of many colors evenly.

There are a million optical illusions based on this. Color spots surrounded by other colors and you are to select which matches a target color, etc.

Answer 2

Yes. Yes and yes.

An interior decorator, artist or anyone who sells paint will verify this.

We think of colors as somehow existing "by themselves" but actually they aren't ever the same. What we see is always dependent on the amount & quality of light, & the context something is in. The "same" color will "look" really different with just a slight change in context. Even the time of day & direction of windows changes the color of the light.

;-)

Answer 3

Yes. Here's some examples

http://www.echalk.co.uk/amusements/OpticalIllusions/colourPerception/colourPerception.html