Prime Color Wavelengths Improve Color Discrimination

ABSTRACT

Using comparative and iterative analyses of three-component spectral power distributions, this work demonstrates the advantage of locating radiation about the prime color wavelengths (near 450, 530, and 610 nm) over the anti-prime color wavelengths (near 490, 570, and 650 nm) for the purpose of maximizing color discrimination as measured by the Total Light Source Error Score, R_d. To maximize color discrimination (minimize R_d) most effectively in the design of a three-component spectrum, locate the primaries about the prime color wavelengths and increase their spectral width up to a full-width at half-maximum of 60 nm, at which R_d is minimized. This work also details the internal logical consistency of quantifying color discrimination of a light source using R_d, whereby the color discrimination ability of the daylight spectrum is set as ideal color discriminator meant to be replicated, not exceeded. Such internal logical consistency does not exist with quantifying color discrimination using gamut area, where is it demonstrably simple to exceed the performance of daylight (i.e., R_g ≥ 100).

KEYWORDS:

• Color rendering
• color discrimination
• transposition
• juxtaposition
• Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test
• light emitting diodes
• total light source error score
• adjusted total error score
• prime color

Disclosure statement

The authors have no financial interests to declare.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

This project was partially supported by the 2019 Richard Kelly Grant.