Pink in Visible Spectrum: Infrared to Ultra Violet

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SUMMARY

Pink does not occupy a specific position in the visible spectrum as it is not represented by a single frequency. Instead, pink is perceived as a combination of red light mixed with a significant amount of white light, which dilutes its intensity. This phenomenon occurs because our eyes have three color receptors (red, green, and blue) that overlap, allowing us to perceive colors like pink through a mixture of light frequencies. Other colors, such as yellow, can be represented by specific frequencies, unlike pink, which results from a superposition of different lightwaves.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of color theory and light wavelengths
  • Familiarity with the visible spectrum and color perception
  • Knowledge of additive color mixing principles
  • Basic concepts of human vision and color receptors
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of additive color mixing in detail
  • Explore the concept of color saturation and its effects on perception
  • Study the human eye's color receptors and their functions
  • Investigate other colors that do not have a specific frequency, such as brown
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students of color theory, educators in visual arts, and anyone interested in the science of color perception and mixing.

Gara
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where is pink in the visible spectrum? it can't be between blue and red cos they're on the opersit ends...

after red is infer red, and after blue is ultra violet?
 
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Originally posted by Gara
where is pink in the visible spectrum? it can't be between blue and red cos they're on the opersit ends...

well it must be between red and blue because you see it...
an technically speaking infrared is before red:smile:

note: it is not a rule that a colour must have a single frequency. What we see as pink could be a superposition of different lightwaves with different frequencies
 
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There is also importantly saturation, or the amount of white light (all frequencies) that accompanies the color. Pink is red with a lot of white.
 
so how come pink doesn't have its own frequency, but other colours that are made from mixing other colours, such as yellow do?
 
Originally posted by Gara
so how come pink doesn't have its own frequency, but other colours that are made from mixing other colours, such as yellow do?
Yellow isn't made by mixing other colors together.
 
Read about it http://www.photo.net/photo/edscott/vis00010.htm . Our eyes have 3 color receptors: they are roughly red green and blue, but they overlap. Therefore we cannot tell the difference between a single frequency like yellow which excites both the red and green receptors, and a mixture of red and green in some proportion which results in the same excitation of red and green receptors.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Originally posted by Gara
so how come pink doesn't have its own frequency, but other colours that are made from mixing other colours, such as yellow do?
Make a mix of equal parts red, green, and blue light, and you'll see the combination as white. Now add just a bit more red to the mix, and you'll have pink.

- Warren
 
Originally posted by Gara
so how come pink doesn't have its own frequency, but other colours that are made from mixing other colours, such as yellow do?

Pink isn't the only one. Another example is brown and there are many others. Krab's explanation tells why.
 
well that clears that up :)
 

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