can you imagine a new colour?

Answer 1

Love the question. Being an artist, I often think that. Discovering a New pigment isn't possible. Thats all we have.

Answer 2

Sure, I'm just not sure I can describe it.

Color is a function of the stimulation of retinal receptors we call "cones", of which there are three types: red, blue and green. Each of them has a capacity to sense a range of energy wave frequencies. The red-sensitive receptor sees wavelengths from 700 to 575 nanometers (most strongly in th 650 nm area). The green cones can see from about 600 to 490 nm. The blue cones cover from about 570 to 400 nm.

These overlapping ranges include most of the colors we know. The shortest visible wavelengths, the violets, are an effect of the blue sensors at the very limits of their sensitivity. The dark reds, umbers, even browns are sensed by the red cones at the longest possible wavelengths.

Some colors cannot be detected as monochromatic light. Magenta is a combination of red and blue, something not found in the spectrum. Yet we can see it. Our retinas have a way of sorting it out.

There is nothing special about the wavelengths above and below the visible spectrum. Certain frequencies resonate with certain materials, producing heat or cellular mutation, but they are effectively invisible light. Some animals can see colors in the infrared and the ultraviolet and we can make sensors to do the same. We just can't detect them directly.

What does ultraviolet or infrared look like? What does yellow look like? We nearly all agree on what color is yellow, but we have no way of knowing if we all agree on what yellow looks like. It is an individual experience for each of us. Color-blind people don't recognize the same colors as the rest of us. Are they simply missing certain colors or are the other colors different too?

I find it very hard to describe green without reference to a green object. As an abstract, red has no describable qualities. Can I imagine an alien life form that has qualities other than ones I've seen somewhere before? Every new color perceived is a surprise, but I can imagine the feeling of beholding it for the first time.

Answer 3

Pinklypurplelicious!

Answer 4

Hey...taking one of my thoughts...or rather I say try to imagine a color we've never seen before... ; )

Maybe the gray we see isn't always really gray!

Answer 5

Clurple.

Answer 6

Haha. I was just thinking about that the other day. There probably is, but humans can't see it.

Answer 7

lol I've tried doing that before, i ended up with a headache

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

no...it is impossible...God created all colors and unless "he" creates a new one...there will be no such thing

Answer 10

No, there's too many already.