Page 103 - Graphic Design and Print Production Fundamentals
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Graphic Design 91
constituents of all colours in the scene that we assume are coming from the tint in the light source. This
behaviour is also known as chromatic adaptation.
The effect of adjacency is very similar to colour constancy. A colour placed next to a light colour
appears darker than when that same colour is placed next to a dark colour (see examples in Figures 4.5
and 4.6). We make adjustments to our interpretation based on our assessment of the environment.
Figure 4.5 Both greens are the same colour
Figure 4.6 Both reds are the same colour
The effect of colour constancy provides a very important lesson in judging our success in colour
matching: it is more important to preserve the overall colour relationships in our image than to focus on
individual colour accuracy.
Memory Colours
In our mind’s eye, not all colours are created equal. Due to their historical importance to our survival,
we pay special attention to certain colours. Flesh tones, the blue of the sky, and the greens of grass are
known as memory colours due to the additional weight they have in our hierarchy of colour.
