color
Enable an AI agent to identify, compare and assess a thing's color under stated conditions and decide how that color may be reproduced, changed or used.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions
Color attribution Establishes what bears the color and whether the attribution describes appearance, evidence or intent.
Bearer and region
Locates the color on a thing at a relevant scale and time.
Attribution extent
Record the bearer and selected extent, including whether a single color summarizes a varying region.
- Which thing, surface, region or volume bears this color, and at what time? definition
- Does this attribution describe the whole selected extent or only a sample, dominant color or average? boundary
Appearance and intent
Separates a current observation from an assigned name or desired specification.
Attribution basis
Identify whether the color is observed, measured, inferred, nominal or intended, and retain its supporting evidence.
- Does this color statement report appearance, an instrument result, an estimate, a label or a target? definition
- Which observation, measurement, source image or specification supports the statement? provenance
Viewing conditions Records the circumstances under which the color is observed or expected to appear.
Light and geometry
Identifies the relevant light interaction, illumination and viewing arrangement.
Optical observation context
Record whether the appearance involves emission, reflection or transmission and the conditions governing that observation.
- Is the observed light emitted, reflected, transmitted or a combination? definition
- What illumination, viewing angle and, for transmission, optical path apply to the observation? measurement
Observer and surround
Identifies the observer basis and surrounding visual context relevant to appearance.
Perceptual context
Retain the background, adaptation conditions and human or modeled observer basis needed to interpret a color judgment.
- Whose judgment or which declared observer model does this appearance description represent? provenance
- What background, surrounding colors and adaptation conditions accompanied the judgment? measurement
Color description and encoding Connects perceptual descriptions and color names to interpretable numerical representations.
Perceptual description
Describes hue and other appearance dimensions using explicit vocabulary and scales.
Appearance descriptors
Record the selected descriptive terms, their meanings and any ambiguous or inapplicable hue assignment.
- Which hue name or achromatic description applies, in which language or controlled vocabulary? definition
- Which lightness, brightness, chroma, saturation or colorfulness quantities are recorded, and on what scales? measurement
Numerical representation
Makes coordinate values interpretable and traces transformations between representations.
Encoding context
Keep coordinates with their color space, range, applicable reference conditions and transformation history.
- What color space, channel range, reference white and device profile are applicable to these values? definition
- Were these values measured directly or produced by capture, conversion or estimation, and through which process? provenance
Color comparison and change Assesses matches, differences and variation over space, time and viewing conditions.
Match assessment
Defines the reference, comparison conditions and acceptance criterion.
Conditional color match
Treat a match as a judgment tied to a method, tolerance and viewing conditions.
- Which reference color, comparison method and tolerance define an acceptable match for this task? measurement
- Must the match hold across different illuminants or observers, and what evidence supports that broader claim? boundary
Variation and drift
Distinguishes spatial variation and temporal drift from observation or capture differences.
Variation evidence
Record the sampling basis, uncertainty and comparability of observations used to assert variation.
- How does color vary across the selected region or observation period, and how was that variation sampled? measurement
- Could differences in lighting, viewing, capture or measurement uncertainty account for the apparent change? boundary
Color use and reproduction Relates color to a practical visual task and the means available to reproduce or alter it.
Visual task fitness
Assesses whether the color supports the intended distinction in its actual context.
Task-dependent distinction
Identify the visual distinction the color must support and the evidence required to judge its adequacy.
- Which neighboring colors or background must this color be distinguishable from, for which users and conditions? boundary
- What task-specific criterion determines whether to accept the color, adjust it or add another visual cue? action
Reproduction and adjustment
Connects the target appearance to output capabilities and verification.
Achievable target color
Record the target medium, known reproduction limits and acceptable deviation before proposing a color change.
- Can the intended display, print process or material reproduce the target color under the required viewing conditions? boundary
- If the target cannot be reproduced, which approximation is acceptable and how will the resulting appearance be checked? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of color this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Cross-cutting context
- Entry kind
- noun.attribute
- Plane
- XCT
- Domain
- XCT.QLT
- Facets: substance
- abstract
- Facets: origin
- conceptual
- Facets: agency
- inert
- Facets: mobility
- not-applicable
- Facets: scale
- not-applicable
- Facets: affordances
- observable
- Other names and narrower kinds
- colour, coloring, colouring, primary color, primary colour, primary color for pigments, primary colour for pigments, primary color for light, primary colour for light, primary subtractive color for light, primary subtractive colour for light, heather mixture
What it is Filled
Colour is the appearance attribute of a visual stimulus that arises from the spectral composition of light emitted, transmitted or reflected toward an observer, is sampled by the short-, medium- and long-wavelength cone photoreceptors and organised in opponent channels, and is specified along the dimensions of hue, brightness or lightness, and colourfulness, chroma or saturation.
In scope
- The bearer, region and time to which a color attribution applies
- Color appearance under specified illumination, viewing and observer conditions
- Color measurements, names and encodings with their interpretation context
- Spatial and temporal color variation and uncertainty
- Color matching, reproduction and suitability for an intended distinction or task
Out of scope
- The full identity, geometry and lifecycle of the object bearing the color
- Pigment, dye or material composition and manufacturing processes
- Light-source engineering and complete spectral characterization
- Surface texture, gloss and transparency as independently modeled attributes
- Observer physiology, diagnosis and individual visual health
- Complete visual designs, symbolic systems and accessibility assessments
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to identify, compare and assess a thing's color under stated conditions and decide how that color may be reproduced, changed or used.
Distinguishing features Filled
- A color attribution identifies a visual appearance or color specification; identifying a pigment or material alone does not establish that appearance.
- A numerical color value requires a declared encoding and interpretation context; identical channel numbers in different contexts are not sufficient evidence of identical color.
- A change caused by illumination or surrounding colors must be distinguishable from a change in the bearer itself.
- A color name groups appearances for communication; sharing a name does not establish a measured or perceptual match.
- An achromatic appearance still falls within color; absence of a prominent hue does not mean that no color attribute exists.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Rely on colour alone to convey required information in an interface or sign.
- Claim a colour match without stating the measurement conditions.
- Alter colours in photographs of evidence, products or artworks without disclosure.
- Assume all viewers see colour the same way.
Only with a human decision
- Approving colour choices for safety signals or medical displays.
May
- Measure and report colour in a stated colour space with the illuminant and observer used.
- Check colour contrast in designs against accessibility guidance.
Moral aspects Filled
- Colour vision differences and low vision make colour-only information exclude people.
- Colour carries cultural meaning that varies between communities.
Who is affected
- People with colour vision deficiency
- Low vision users
- Designers and manufacturers
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns colour; standards bodies maintain colour spaces and measurement methods.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- oewn-04957303-n - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.color
- Open English WordNet: oewn-04963771-n
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
- Color bearer and extent: Bearer reference; whole object, surface, region, pixel or volume; observation time
- Light interaction: Emitted, reflected, transmitted, mixed or undetermined
- Hue description: Named hue with vocabulary and language, or achromatic, ambiguous or undetermined
- Lightness or brightness descriptor: Value on a named scale with the quantity, reference and conditions declared
- Chromatic intensity descriptor: Chroma, saturation or colorfulness on a declared scale, with the chosen quantity identified
- Color coordinates: Coordinate tuple with color space, scale, reference conditions and profile where applicable
- Observation context: Illumination, viewing geometry, background, observer basis and instrument or capture references
- Color uniformity: Uniform within a stated tolerance, spatially varying, temporally varying or unassessed
- Color difference: Value with named comparison method, reference color and observation conditions
- Representation role: Observed, measured, estimated, intended or nominal
Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Perceived as hue, lightness and saturation; depends on lighting and the observer.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Describe or measure a selected region's color while retaining observation conditions and uncertainty.
- Compare a color with a reference using a declared method and task-specific tolerance.
- Translate a color specification between declared representations and report reproduction limits.
- Select or adjust a target color to support a stated visual distinction.
- Detect color drift or nonuniformity and request a controlled re-observation.
- Propose a change to the bearer's displayed or material color through the corresponding device or material model.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Metamerism makes samples match under one light and differ under another.
- Colour-only coding hides information from some users.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- CIE colorimetry standards, International Commission on Illumination.
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, World Wide Web Consortium, for contrast.
Context of use required Filled
- Color is encountered when people inspect objects, materials, images, displays and illuminated environments.
- It is used to distinguish items, communicate information, coordinate appearance and assess visible changes in materials.
- Reliable comparison and reproduction require stated lighting, viewing conditions and an appropriate color specification.
Sources Filled
- ILV: International Lighting Vocabulary, 2nd Edition (CIE S 017/E:2020) - Specialist definition of colour as a perceptual attribute with hue, brightness/lightness and chromatic intensity; related versus unrelated colour; colourimetric quantities.
- CIE 15: Colorimetry - Standard observers, illuminants, tristimulus values, chromaticity, CIELAB and recommended colour-difference practice.
- ISO/CIE 11664 series (Colorimetry: CIE standard observers and illuminants, CIE 1976 L*a*b*, CIEDE2000) - Normative identifiers and measurement spaces used to specify object and illuminant colour.
- Color Science: Concepts and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulae - Physical, physiological and colourimetric account of emitted, transmitted and reflected light; metamerism; colour-matching functions.
- Color Appearance Models - Modes of colour appearance (surface, volume, illuminant, aperture), related versus unrelated colour, and appearance dimensions.
- Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution - Cross-linguistic differences in basic colour-term inventories used under regional_variation.
- Open English WordNet 2024, synset oewn-04963771-n - sense and gloss of the concept
- Wiktionary: color - word senses and usage
Open questions
- Which color appearance and measurement conventions should Vercy adopt, and which contextual fields does each convention require?
- What minimum observation evidence is sufficient for each intended use, especially when the only input is an image with unknown capture processing?
- Where should the registry boundary fall between color and neighboring attributes for fluorescent, iridescent, metallic or otherwise angle-dependent appearances?
- Which task-specific matching tolerances and distinguishability criteria should be referenced, and who has authority to select them?
- How should multilingual color names and uncertain mappings between naming systems be represented without implying exact equivalence?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-color/spec.json