How well do you see colour?

How to Test and Improve Your Colour Vision

FACT: 1 out of 255 women and 1 out of 12 men have some form of colour vision deficiency.

Vision and, particularly colour vision, is a crucial part of our perception and comprehension of the world around us. However, it's interesting to note that not everyone perceives colours similarly. Did you know that 1 out of 255 women and 1 out of 12 men are color deficient or color blind? It's intriguing to delve into how our eyes discern colours and to identify if we have any deficiencies. In this article, we will explore the topic of colour vision and provide a step-by-step guide on how to perform a colour vision test and enhance your colour vision.

Understanding Colour Vision Deficiency

A colour vision deficiency, often referred to as colour blindness or color deficiency, doesn't necessarily mean that a person perceives the world in monochrome. It signifies the inability or difficulty in distinguishing certain colours accurately. There are different types of colour blindness, with varying degrees of severity. Some individuals may struggle more than others in discerning various hues, depending on the type of color blindness they have.

The Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test

To gauge the extent of your color vision deficiency and pinpoint specific colour-related challenges, you can take the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test. This online colour blind test is a globally recognized tool for evaluating colour vision. It involves arranging colour blocks in the correct order of hue, with fixed first and last blocks in each row. By taking this colour blindness test, you can gain insights into your colour perception and identify areas where you may struggle due to color deficiency.

Please note that the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test is not compatible with mobile devices such as phones and iPads. To take the test, you will need to use a desktop or laptop computer with a mouse attached. Once you have completed the test, make sure to note your score and the areas where you had difficulty identifying the correct hues.

Take the online colour test based on the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test.

Click the URL below to take the free colour and hue range test from Xrite

Please note this does not work on mobile devices like phones and iPads - so you need to do this from a pc or laptop with a mouse attached. Note your score and the areas you didn't identify correctly, as once you press submit and put gender and age in, you lose your test results from the screen.

Step 1 - go to the test page - https://www.xrite.com/hue-test

Vision Colour Test — Test - Screenshot only - click the image to go to the Xrite hue test page - then drag and drop the colour blocks in order of hue - the first and last block in each row is fixed

Step 2 - Drag the squares to place in order of hue

Step 3 - Score your test

Step 4 - Compare your results - Note Zero score means perfect result

A colour vision defect doesn't mean you're colour blind

There are varying degrees of colour blindness, and some people may not be colour-blind at all. They have a harder time distinguishing various hues than someone with sharper colour acuity.

Viewing & Printing - Why colours do not look accurate on your display or print.

Have you ever wondered why the colours you see on your monitor don't match the scene you photographed or the image you printed? That's because what you see on-screen is only as accurate as your display. Fortunately, there's an easy way to fix this. Calibrating and profiling will optimize your monitor's settings for contrast, brightness, and colour temperature, and allow you to see your "true colours." -

Calibrating your screen and printer

Calibrating Your Screen and Printer

Have you ever wondered why the colours you see on your monitor don't match the scene you photographed or the images you print? The accuracy of colours displayed on your screen depends on the calibration of your display, which adjusts the spectrum of light it emits. Fortunately, there is a simple way to address this issue – by calibrating and profiling your monitor.

Calibrating and profiling your monitor optimizes its settings for contrast, brightness, and colour temperature, allowing you to see colours as they truly are under different light conditions. There are various devices available for calibrating your monitor and printer. One popular option is the Spyder from Datacolor, which can be purchased on Amazon for around £120. Alternatively, you can seek professional assistance to calibrate your screen for you.

Essential Steps for Accurate Colours

To ensure consistent and accurate colours throughout your photography workflow, follow these essential steps:

Custom White Balance: Always perform a custom white balance in your camera to obtain accurate colour representation.
Use Adobe RGB: Set your camera to use the Adobe RGB colour space, which offers a wider colour gamut than sRGB.
Calibrate Your Monitor: Use a device like the Spyder or Colour Munki to calibrate your computer monitor, ensuring that the colours you see on screen are true to life.
Calibrate Your Printer: Calibrate your printer for different ink and paper types. Most printer manufacturers provide colour profiles for each paper type online, so make sure to download and use them.
Maintain Consistent Colour Profiles: Keep your colour profile consistent throughout any editing in software. Stick to Adobe RGB for accurate colour representation.

By following these steps, you can achieve accurate and vibrant colours from the moment you capture an image to the final print, ensuring the full spectrum of colours is represented.

The essentials to getting accurate colours throughout your workflow are as follows:

Always do a custom white balance in camera
Set your camera to use Adobe RGB, it has a wider colour gamuet than SRGB
Calibrate your computer monitor using a device like the the Sypder or Colour Munki
Calibrate your printer for the ink and different paper types. Most printer manufacturers provide colour profiles for each paper type on-line so make sure you download them.
Keep your colour profile consistent throughout any editing in software. Stick to Adobe RGB

The Impact of Accurate Colours

Why is it so important to have accurate colours in your photographs? Accurate colours, reflecting the full spectrum of light, not only enhance the visual appeal of your images but also convey the intended emotions and atmosphere. Whether you are capturing vibrant landscapes, rich portraits, or vivid still life compositions, accurate colours play a crucial role in immersing the viewer in your photographic vision.

Moreover, accurate colours are vital for professional photographers who rely on accurate product representation or precise colour matching for commercial work. By mastering the art of colour accuracy, you can elevate your photography to new heights, creating impactful visual experiences that light up the viewer's vision.

Embracing the Journey of Colour Perception

Understanding and improving your colour vision is an ongoing journey. By leveraging tools like the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test, also known as the colour vision test, and calibrating your equipment, you can gain a deeper understanding of how you perceive colours, even if you have color blindness or color vision deficiency, and take steps to enhance your colour acuity.

Explore the world of colour and immerse yourself in the vast spectrum of hues. Embrace the nuances and subtleties that colours offer, allowing them to inspire and guide your photographic journey. Through continuous learning and practice, you can unlock your full creative potential and capture captivating images that truly resonate with viewers, enhancing their light and vision experience.

Remember, colour vision is not just about seeing the world, but about perceiving it in its truest and most vibrant form. So, take the first step today and embark on a colourful adventure of self-discovery and visual expression!

Conclusion

Colour vision is a fascinating aspect of our perception, and understanding our own colour acuity can enhance our photography skills. By taking the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test, a recognised colour blindness test, and calibrating our equipment, we can gain valuable insights into our colour perception, even if we have color deficiency, and work towards improving it. Accurate colours not only enhance the visual appeal of our images but also communicate emotions and atmosphere effectively. So, embrace the journey of colour perception and unlock your creative potential through the vibrant world of colours!