How Do We See Violet? Understanding Wavelengths

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies how humans perceive the color violet, which has a shorter wavelength than blue. It explains that the human eye contains three types of cones sensitive to red, green, and blue light. When violet light enters the eye, it primarily stimulates the blue-sensitive cones, leading to the perception of violet due to the brain's interpretation of the signals from these cones. The oversimplified view of color perception does not account for the complex interactions between different cone responses.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of human color vision and cone types
  • Basic knowledge of light wavelengths and the electromagnetic spectrum
  • Familiarity with color theory and color mixing
  • Ability to interpret visual diagrams related to color perception
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  • Research the role of cone cells in color vision
  • Explore the electromagnetic spectrum and its relation to color perception
  • Study color mixing techniques in art and design
  • Examine the neurological processes involved in interpreting color signals
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Students of biology, educators in visual arts, and anyone interested in the science of color perception will benefit from this discussion.

Fridgefox
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I don't understand how we see violet. We have cones sensitive to red, blue and green and so can see these primary colours. Colours with wavelengths between these are seen when more than one cone is stimulated. How can we see a colour of shorter wavelength than blue? Surely it ought to stimulate the blue-sensitive cone only and therefore be seen as blue. Can anyone help?
 
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We have cones sensitive to red, blue and green
That is an oversimplified description how our eyes work. We have three different types of sensors, with a different sensitivity in some broad frequency (or "color") range. Based on their signals, the brain can find some interpretation about the color of incoming light.
Violet can correspond to a significant excitation of "blue", with nearly no excitation of the others, for example. "Blue" would be seen by the other sensors, too. See this diagram from wikipedia:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Cone-fundamentals-with-srgb-spectrum.svg
 
I didn't know M & L responses are that similar.
 

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