Pure white light is actually made up of all colors. Without color there would be no light. As we can see in the prism illustration above, when white light is split into its component parts, it produces a rainbow of colors. The same observation can be made when we see a rainbow in the sky. The prismatic effect created when light passes through the small droplets of moisture in the atmosphere actually bends the light into its spectral components. The reason we call this model additive color is because when all colors are combined they form white light.

When you look at a white sheet of paper in any light it appears white. That’s because our brains compensate for lighting irregularities automatically. No matter the lighting conditions, to your eye white always looks... white. Whether under candlelight or sunlight, fluorescent or tungsten, sunset or noonday, a white sheet of paper pretty much always appear white. This is because your brain retains “memory colors.” Unfortnately, your camera doesn't! The camera records light quite objectively. The fact is... your brain is a lot more forgiving than your camera.

What is Accurate Color?

The light that you see with your eyes and capture with your digital camera is composed of red, green, and blue electromagnetic waves. Your computer monitor also uses these colors to display your images. Unfortunately, your eyes, your camera, and your monitor all have their own interpretation of what RGB colors look like.

The three overlapping circles on the left represent red, green, and blue (RGB) colors of the additive color model. In chapter one of Accurate Color - The Light and Color Show, I reveal how both your eyes and your camera use their respective sensory equipment to capture and sort out the various colors that we know as the visual spectrum.

But here's where the problems begin. Not only are there several different versions of RGB, but there are also three overlapping (secondary) colors on the right (cyan, magenta, and yellow- CMY). These secondary colors are the foundation colors used by every ink jet and laser printer. The problem? RGB and CMY are almost totally oposite color models. Unfortunately, the conversion process that transposes colors from one model to another is not a tidy, equal swap.

As if this weren't difficult enough, each printer technology (ink jet, laser, dye sublimation, etc.) requires a slightly different conversion model to prepare images for their ink particular colors. While every manufacturer maintains very critical quality control standards over the purity and color of their inks, dyes, and toners, each of these colorants differ in light reflectance properties.

You'll learn that photos captured in RGB colors must be flawlessly transposed into the specific CMY (and more) secondary colors specifically for your particular printer. And you'll learn that each paper surface reflects these colors to the viewer's eyes slightly differently.

Needless to say, printing color photos with accuracy is not quite as automatic as is commonly thought.

But fear not, we've designed the entire Accurate Color book to address this issue with simplicity, clarity, and accuracy. When you understand the issues, the soloutions take care of themselves.

You'll be amazed to learn how similarly your eyes and digital cameras operate. You'll learn that your eyes hold the secrets to how your camera works. You'll understand both from the very first chapter of Accurate Color. You'll learn about your camera perceives color by understanding how your eyes perceive it.

If you think science had to be dull and difficult, you will be pleasantly surprised.