Illustrating Color Evolution and Color Blindness by the Decoding Model of Color Vision

TL;DR

This paper introduces a decoding model of color vision that unifies existing theories, illustrates color phenomena like evolution and blindness, and derives a formal RGB to HSV transform similar to computer graphics standards.

Contribution

The decoding model offers a new symmetrical approach to color vision, integrating multiple theories and providing a formal RGB to HSV transformation.

Findings

Unifies tri-pigment and opponent theories naturally

Illustrates color evolution and blindness concisely

Derives RGB to HSV transform identical to standard methods

Abstract

A symmetrical model of color vision, the decoding model as a new version of zone model, was introduced. The model adopts new continuous-valued logic and works in a way very similar to the way a 3-8 decoder in a numerical circuit works. By the decoding model, Young and Helmholtz's tri-pigment theory and Hering's opponent theory are unified more naturally; opponent process, color evolution, and color blindness are illustrated more concisely. According to the decoding model, we can obtain a transform from RGB system to HSV system, which is formally identical to the popular transform for computer graphics provided by Smith (1978). Advantages, problems, and physiological tests of the decoding model are also discussed.