white
Let an agent handle white by colour specification, context, symbolism and accessibility.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle white by colour specification, context, symbolism and accessibility.
The lightest achromatic colour, perceived when a surface reflects or a source emits all visible wavelengths roughly equally; many named whites exist, such as milk white or off-whites with slight tints.
What it is for: Design, printing, lighting, signage and cultural symbolism.
It can be specify it in colour systems; match paint and print; check contrast with other colours; set white point in displays.
Distinguishing features
Lightest achromatic colour
Many near-white variants
White point depends on illuminant
Symbolism varies by culture
What it looks like
The colour of fresh snow or milk; tinted whites lean warm or cool.
How it is recognised
sRGB #FFFFFF for pure white
Named whites in RAL and other systems
White light is a mix of wavelengths
Related models
is a kind of - category
is the opposite of - colour
is specified by - standards
is related to - physics
In practice
Families and kinds
pure white
warm and cool whites
off-whites
white light and white points
named paint whites
Identifiers
sRGB hex #FFFFFF screen colour
CIE white point D65 standard illuminant
Standards and regulation
CIE colorimetry
ISO 11664
WCAG contrast guidelines
Failure modes and hazards
Poor contrast with light text
Glare in bright white interfaces
Assuming universal symbolism
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.white
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Specification Which white.
Whites differ.
Code
Colour system.
Code
Colour specification.
- Which colour system and code define this white? definition
- Is it warm or cool? definition
White point
Illuminant.
White point
White point.
- Which white point is used? definition
- For which display or print process? definition
Design Use.
White shapes design.
Contrast
Legibility.
Contrast
Contrast.
- Does text on this white meet contrast guidelines? boundary
- What contrast ratio? measurement
Glare
Comfort.
Glare
Visual comfort.
- Could bright white cause glare or fatigue? boundary
- Is a softer white better? action
Materials Paint and print.
Matching is hard.
Paint
Matching.
Paint
Paint matching.
- Which paint matches this white? action
- Under which lighting? boundary
Paper white.
Paper white.
- How does paper white affect print colour? definition
- Do brighteners change it? boundary
Culture Meaning.
Meaning varies.
Symbolism
Associations.
Symbolism
Symbolism.
- What does white signify in this culture? provenance
- Is it associated with mourning or celebration? definition
Language
Names.
Language
Colour names.
- What is this white called in other languages? definition
- Are there special terms? definition
What the second pass must settle
- Should named whites be separate entries?
- How should white points be linked?
- How should cultural meanings be recorded?