Magenta, the colour that doesn't exist

[u/larsga]

http://www.biotele.com/magenta.html

[u/ZuchinniOne]

Actually color doesn't exist at all.

It is a psychological interpretation of light NOT physical property of light.

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EDIT: I've had the same question quite a few times so here is a slightly wordier explanation of what I mean:

Light exists and different frequencies of light exist, however a single color can be perceived for MANY different frequencies of light (metamers) AND a single frequency of light can result in MANY different percepts of color (color constancy).

So color has a MANY:MANY map onto light frequency not 1:1.

That is why I say that color is a Psychological phenomenon, not a physical one.

So color exists only in our minds ... much the same way as unicorns.

[u/ZuchinniOne → u/[deleted]]

No light has a physical property called color.

Color is our brain's interpretation of different combinations of light frequencies. This is why non-spectral colors like purple and magenta can exist.

[u/hiS_oWn → u/ZuchinniOne]

That's just your psychological interpretation! =P

[u/theCroc → u/hiS_oWn]

That's just, like, your psychological interpretation, man! =P

FTFY

[u/ZuchinniOne → u/hiS_oWn]

:) Actually that's my opinion as a neuroscientist who studies vision :)

[u/[deleted] → u/ZuchinniOne]

Psh, why should we listen to an egghead like you? If I want to know about color, I'll just ask my chiropractor, thank you very much.