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color

vr.tr.color · thing-q1075

Let an agent specify colour precisely with a colour space or system, and handle the gap between physical light, perception, names and device reproduction.

Thing Registry Cross-cutting context XCT.QLT
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Specification Stating a colour precisely.

Colour space

sRGB, CIELAB, CMYK.

Colour space

The space and values.

  1. In which colour space is this colour given, and with what values? measurement
  2. Which illuminant and observer apply? provenance

Colour system

Pantone, RAL, Munsell.

System reference

The system reference.

  1. Which colour system code specifies it? provenance
  2. What is its closest sRGB equivalent? measurement
Perception How it is seen.

Viewing conditions

Light and surround.

Viewing conditions

Lighting and background.

  1. Under which light and against what background is it seen? definition
  2. How much does its appearance shift? measurement

Accessibility

Colour vision and contrast.

Accessibility

Contrast and colour-blind safety.

  1. Does the design rely on colour alone? boundary
  2. Does it meet contrast requirements? measurement
Reproduction Screens, print, paint.

Gamut

What a device can show.

Gamut check

Whether the colour fits the gamut.

  1. Can this colour be reproduced in the target medium? boundary
  2. How will it be mapped if not? action

Matching

Colour difference.

Match tolerance

Tolerance for matches.

  1. What colour difference is acceptable? measurement
  2. How is the match verified? action
Meaning and materials What colour signals and what makes it.

Meaning

Safety and cultural meanings.

Meaning

Conventional meanings.

  1. Which safety or cultural meaning does this colour carry here? definition
  2. Could it be misread in another culture? boundary

Pigments

Materials and toxicity.

Pigment

Pigments used.

  1. Which pigment or dye produces it? definition
  2. Is that material hazardous? boundary

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Cross-cutting context
Entry kind
thing
Plane
XCT
Domain
XCT.QLT
Other names and narrower kinds
cadmium pigments, gamboge, sinopia, web color, color system, color notation, web-safe color, HTML4 named color, safest web colors, premature greying of hair, premature graying of body hair, skin pigmentation

What it is Filled

The property of light, and of objects that reflect or emit it, perceived as hue, saturation and lightness, arising from the spectral distribution of light and the response of the eye and brain.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent specify colour precisely with a colour space or system, and handle the gap between physical light, perception, names and device reproduction.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Partly physical, partly perceptual
  • Specified in colour spaces with defined illuminants
  • Device-dependent values (RGB, CMYK) differ from device-independent ones (CIELAB)
  • Colour vision deficiency changes what people see

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Use colour alone to convey meaning that colour-blind users would miss.
  • Choose text and background colours with unreadable contrast.
  • Recommend historical pigments containing lead, cadmium or similar toxic substances for unprotected use.
  • Use skin colour to classify or judge people.

Only with a human decision

  • Changing safety colours on signs, wiring or controls.

May

  • Specify colours in a stated colour space so they reproduce consistently.
  • Check colour contrast in interfaces and documents against accessibility guidance.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Colour carries safety meanings that people rely on.
  • Colour has been used to classify and discriminate against people.

Who is affected

  • Colour-blind and low-vision people
  • Users of safety signs

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody owns colour; standards bodies define colour spaces and safety colours.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q1207505 - registry parent class
  • Q1277572 - registry parent class
  • Q141256666 - registry parent class
  • Q14506045 - registry parent class

related

  • red and other hues - individual colours are entries
  • pigment and light - materials and emission
  • vision - depends on the observer
  • signal and design - safety colours, brands

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.color
  • Wikidata: Q1075 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1075)
  • hex code: #RRGGBB in sRGB web colours
  • Pantone number: for example Pantone 179 C proprietary spot colours
  • RAL code: four digits industrial colours

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

  • visible wavelengths: 380-750 nm
  • colour difference noticeable: about 1-2 Delta E - CIEDE2000

Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • Colour names are approximate and cultural
  • Codes such as hex #RRGGBB, Pantone numbers or CIELAB values specify colour
  • Appearance depends on the light source and surroundings
  • Everything seen has colour; the same object looks different under different light.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • measure it, with spectrophotometers and colorimeters
  • specify it, in colour spaces or systems
  • reproduce it, on screens, in print or with pigments
  • name it, which is imprecise and language-dependent

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Colour mismatch between screen and print
  • Relying on colour alone, excluding colour-blind users
  • Poor contrast making text unreadable
  • Toxic historical pigments such as cadmium and lead

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • CIE colorimetry standards
  • IEC 61966-2-1 sRGB
  • ISO 3864 safety colours
  • WCAG contrast requirements

Context of use required Filled

  • Describing, matching and reproducing appearance, in design, printing, screens, paint, signals and science.
  • colour spaces: sRGB, CIELAB, CMYK
  • colour systems: Munsell, Pantone, RAL, NCS
  • pigments and dyes
  • web colours and web-safe colours
  • colour names

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q1075: color - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Color - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Which colour space should the registry use as reference?
  • How should colour names across languages be linked?
  • Should pigments be separate entries from colours?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1075/spec.json