What determines the perceived color of an object?

The perceived color of an object is fundamentally determined by the dominant light wavelengths that are reflected or transmitted by that object. When light strikes an object, certain wavelengths of light are absorbed while others are reflected. The specific wavelengths that are reflected or transmitted to the observer's eyes are interpreted as color. For instance, a red apple appears red because it reflects the wavelengths associated with red light and absorbs other colors.

Light absorption, while it plays a role in this process, is not directly responsible for the perceived color; instead, it is the reflected wavelengths from the light source that define the color we see. Factors like shadows and surface texture influence the perception of color but do not determine the intrinsic color of the object itself. Shadows can change the apparent color by altering the light that reaches the object and is reflected to the observer, and texture can affect how light interacts with the surface, potentially influencing the perception of its color as well. However, the key element remains the specific wavelengths of light that are reflected or transmitted, making this understanding crucial in the study of color in design and advertising.