Lykkers, have you ever paused to think about how colors around us come to life? From rainbows in the sky to the soft shades of a sunset, colors are more than decoration—they shape how we feel and perceive the world.

Today, let’s follow the journey of color from the very light that reaches our eyes to the way our brains understand it. This adventure in color science will show us how light becomes the vivid experiences we enjoy every day.

Light Sources and Color Perception

The first step in seeing color starts with light. Sunlight, lamps, or any other light source emits rays that travel either directly to our eyes or bounce off objects before reaching us. Inside our eyes, special cells trigger chemical reactions in response to these rays. These reactions send signals through our nervous system to the brain, where colors are finally perceived. Essentially, our experience of color begins with this fascinating interaction between light and our eyes.

As kids, we might have played with a triangular prism in sunlight, watching a rainbow appear as light passed through it. This happens because the prism separates light into different wavelengths. Humans can see wavelengths roughly between 380nm and 780nm, known as visible light. Wavelengths outside this range, like infrared and ultraviolet, exist too, though we cannot see them.

Wavelengths and Energy Distribution

Light behaves like waves on a large scale, similar to ripples created when we toss stones into a lake. The wavelength—the length of a wave—determines color. Shorter wavelengths appear bluish or violet, while longer ones look reddish. Interestingly, a wavelength around 555nm is seen as green by our eyes.

Energy distribution, or how much power light carries at different wavelengths, works in a similar way. Imagine throwing multiple stones in a lake: each creates ripples of different sizes that overlap. In light, waves of different wavelengths overlap to create complex patterns. This is why sunlight contains a full spectrum of colors, each contributing its share of energy to what we perceive.

The Role of Spectrophotometers

To study light scientifically, we use devices called spectrophotometers. These instruments separate light by wavelength using a prism. At precise points along the separated spectrum, sensors detect energy at each wavelength. For example, one sensor might measure 400nm, another 450nm, and so on, or even a sensor for every 1nm if needed.

By recording these energy levels, we get a detailed “power spectrum” of the light. If most energy is around 550nm, the light appears green. Spectrophotometers let us measure light objectively, without relying on guessing or comparing colors by eye. This ability to quantify light energy and wavelength is a major step in modern color science.

Light Propagation and Its Effects

As light travels, it follows different paths: direct, reflected, or transmitted. Direct light reaches our eyes straightforwardly, but reflected and transmitted light can alter the power spectrum along the way. Spectrophotometers help us track these changes, giving insight into how objects influence the light we see.

For instance, a light spectrum from a lamp changes after reflecting off an object. Certain wavelengths may weaken because the object absorbs them. If energy drops between 500nm and 600nm, this means the object absorbs green and yellow light more than others. By comparing the original and reflected spectra, we can understand exactly how an object interacts with light and which colors it emphasizes or diminishes.

Enjoy the Colors

Lykkers, now we know that the colorful world we see is the result of a journey: light travels, interacts with objects, and finally reaches our eyes, where our brains make sense of it. Colors are not random—they carry energy, wavelengths, and interactions that influence our daily perception. Next time we admire a rainbow or the shades of a sunset, let’s remember the fascinating science behind every color. By understanding light and color, we can better appreciate the vibrant world around us.