How does one define color? In general, color refers to the spectral qualities of light being emitted or reflected from an object (Langley & Langley, 2010). According to Aristotle, color resulted from a mixture of white and black light and was sent to Earth from the gods in the heavens to correspond to the four elements: earth wind, fire, and water (Langley & Langley, 2010). Then, in the seventeenth century, Sir Isaac Newton demonstrated that white light could produce variations of colors through his experimentations using prisms. The lights that resulted from the prism became known as the spectrum (Koch, 2013). When white light passed through a dispersive prism, it split into colors of varying frequency. Based on frequency from low to high, Newton labeled colors of the red, orange, yellow, green, indigo (cyan), blue, violet (Murray, n.d.). However, when these colors were mixed together, white light resulted once again (Koch, 2013).
Into the eighteenth century, the concept of color was further studied. It was discovered that any color that various hues of color could be produced when mixing proportions of the three determined wavelengths (red, blue, and green) (Langley & Langley, 2010). This phenomenon became known as trichromacy (Langley & Langley, 2010). Further studies in the concept of trichromacy led to the discovery of the sensitivity of rods and cones in the human retina and how they respond to the various wavelengths entering the eye.
Into the eighteenth century, the concept of color was further studied. It was discovered that any color that various hues of color could be produced when mixing proportions of the three determined wavelengths (red, blue, and green) (Langley & Langley, 2010). This phenomenon became known as trichromacy (Langley & Langley, 2010). Further studies in the concept of trichromacy led to the discovery of the sensitivity of rods and cones in the human retina and how they respond to the various wavelengths entering the eye.