The Eye-Brain Detector-Interpreter

After modification the light must strike a detector in order to be evaluated. The most important detector when discussing color is the human eye because perceived 

The retinal rods are more sensitive in the ultraviolet, and there are specialized cones for the blue, green and red regions respectively. Since these sensitivities are slightly dilferent for each human being, the 1931 Commission Internationale de I Eclairage (CIE) defined the response curve for a standard observer in order to overcome this difficulty. This curve, which is illustrated in Fig. 2.9b is actually three curves, one for each response region of the spectrum, and it is based upon the Young-Helmholtz theory discussed above [18, 19]. 

For reasons that will be discussed in the following chapter, ultraviolet and visible spectra give rise to characteristic broad bands of radiation. When these broad bands correspond to each of several different regions of the visible spectrum, they are capable of inducing a mental color response interpreted as a single color. 

Wavelength (nm) Energy (eV) Color of absorbed light Color seen 

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