Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Light conditions refer to the varying levels and qualities of light that can impact how colors are perceived by individuals. This includes factors such as the intensity, color temperature, and direction of light.
Related terms
Color Temperature: Color temperature refers to the warmth or coolness of light, which can affect how colors appear. For example, warm lighting may make colors appear more yellow or orange, while cool lighting may make them appear more blue.
Illuminance: Illuminance is the amount of light falling on a surface per unit area. Changes in illuminance can impact how colors are perceived; brighter lighting may make colors appear more vivid, while dimmer lighting may make them appear duller.
Metamerism: Metamerism is when two objects with different spectral power distributions under one set of lighting conditions appear to have similar colors under another set of lighting conditions. It occurs because our visual system adapts to different types and intensities of light sources.