Colored Shadows

From: Jo Falcon (jofalcon@isaac.exploratorium.edu)
Date: Fri Jul 11 1997 - 10:08:10 PDT


> > Date: Wed, 09 Jul 1997 15:33:40 -0500
> > From: woodruff@butler.edu (Woodruff, Burrton)
> > Reply-To: woodruff@butler.edu
> > Organization: Butler University
> > To: ronh@exploratorium.edu
> >
> > -------------------------
> > Dear Curator:
> >
> > The shadows are more surprising than might be expected.
> >
> > With only the red light on, the shadow is NOT pink or reddish as the
> > text of your exhibit would suggest. This is especially obvious as the
> > room is darkened. With Red illumination, the shadow is a blue/green even
> > though the illumination is only red.
> >
> > The basis of this complementary color effect is the principle of color
> > conversion first stated by Helson in the late 30's.
> >
> > See
> >
> > Helson, H. (1938). Fundamental problems in color vision. I. The
> > principle governing changes in hue, waturation, and lightness of
> > non-selective samples in chromatic illumination. _Journal of
> > Experimental Psychology_, 23, 439-476.
> >
> > Helson had a student who completed a disseration on colored shadows
> >
> > Self, H. C. A quantitative study of colored shadows. PH.D. dissertation,
> > University of Texas Library, Austin, 1959.
> >
> > More information on colored shadows is given in Helson's book
> >
> > Helson, H. (1964). Adaptation Level Theory. New York: Harper & Row, pp
> > 270-276.
> >
> > Looking forward to hearing from you.
> >
> > Most sincerely,
> >
> > Burrton Woodruff, PhD
> > Department of Psychology
> > Butler University
> > Indianapolis, IN 46208
> > woodruff@butler.edu



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