Light and Colour Theories, and their relation to light and colour standardization

by Joseph W. Lovibond

The power of recovering the unit, is by co-relation to well-known physical colour constants, such as is easily obtained by definite intensities of percentage solutions, of selected pure chemical compounds in distilled water, at standard temperatures. For example, a one per cent. solution of pure crystallized copper sulphate C₂SO₄5H₂O at 60° F. when viewed in the optical instrument in a 1-inch stratum, must be matched by a combination of Yellow 1·58 and Blue 1·55.

The inch of distilled water itself constitutes very little of this colour; the colour of distilled water is remarkably uniform, and might almost be taken as a colour constant, thus: A 2-foot stratum is matched by Yellow 0·1 and Blue 0·34, a 4-foot stratum by Yellow 1·0 and Blue 1·45.

A one per cent. solution of Nickel Sulphate NiSO₄7H₂O, tem. 60° F. in a 2-inch stratum must be matched by 2·2 Blue and 2·0 Yellow units.

A one per cent. solution of Potassium Bichromate K₂Cr₂O, Tem. 60° and in a 2-inch stratum after being dulled by 0·5 neutral tint units must be matched by 34·0 yellow and 9·6 red units.

METHOD OF DEVELOPING, MEASURING AND NAMING COLOUR.

The single sensation colours, Red, Yellow and Blue, are matchable by a single glass from the corresponding colour scale; the depth of colour is directly indicated by the value of the glass used.

The single sensation colours, Orange, Green and Violet, are matchable by a combination of equal units, from two of the standard scales, the depth of colour is directly indicated by the unit value of either of the glasses, thus: 2·0 Blue + 2·0 Red develop 2·0 units Violet.

A given neutral grey is matchable by a combination of equal units from the three standard scales, the depth of grey, is directly indicated by the unit value on either of the glasses used, thus:—

3·0 Red + 3·0 yellow + 3·0 blue develop 3·0 units neutral tint.

The complex colour sensations, red and yellow oranges, yellow and blue greens, blue and red violets are matchable by unequal glasses from two of the standard scales; the colour developed is not directly indicated by the unit value of the glasses, but is recorded by means of an equation, the first half of which contains the separate values of the glasses used, and the second half the names and the depth of the colours they transmit. For instance—