Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Pages: 475-499

Journal: Annual Review of Vision Science

Volume number: 4

ISSN: 2374-4642

eISSN: 2374-4650

Open access status: Bronze

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034231

Publisher: Annual Reviews

Abstract: 
Color has been scientifically investigated by linking color appearance to colorimetric measurements of the light that enters the eye. However, the main purpose of color perception is not to determine the properties of incident light, but to aid the visual perception of objects and materials in our environment. We review the state of the art on object colors, color constancy, and color categories to gain insight into the functional aspects of color perception. The common ground between these areas of research is that color appearance is tightly linked to the identification of objects and materials and the communication across observers. In conclusion, we argue that research should focus on how color processing is adapted to the surface properties of objects in the natural environment in order to bridge the gap between the known early stages of color perception and the subjective appearance of color.

Harvard Citation style: Witzel, C. and Gegenfurtner, K. (2018) Color Perception: Objects, Constancy, and Categories, Annual Review of Vision Science, 4, pp. 475-499. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034231

APA Citation style: Witzel, C., & Gegenfurtner, K. (2018). Color Perception: Objects, Constancy, and Categories. Annual Review of Vision Science. 4, 475-499. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-vision-091517-034231