Panasonic KX-P8420 Manual

In the 1930s, the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) defined a 
standard color space, a way of defining colors in mathematical terms, to 
help in the communication of color information. This color space is based on 
research on the nature of color perception. 

By mixing any two spectral colors in different proportions, we can create all 
the colors found between them. For example, it is possible to create the 
same gray by mixing blue-green and red light or by mixing yellow-green and 
blue-violet light. This is possible because of a phenomenon peculiar to color 
vision called metamerism. The eye does not distinguish individual 
wavelengths of light. Therefore, different combinations of spectral light can 
produce the same perceived color. 

A color can be described in terms of three varying characteristics: 

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Hue, or tint (the qualitative aspect of a color—red, green, or orange)

•

Saturation, or the purity of the color

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Brightness, or relative position between white and black. 

Many computer applications include dialog boxes in which you select colors 
by manipulating hue, saturation, and brightness. For example, Photoshop 
uses a square Color Picker which can be reconfigured according to your 
preference.