Abstract
Exploring how light, context and other factors are influencing the perception of surface colour.
Visual colour is not a constant, our perception of colour is depending on surface properties, light qualities, and context as well as cultural and historic values.
Learning to comprehend light is the foundation for understanding the influence of light on our perception of colour and space and a skill of importance for architectural design. This paper presents a series of exercises and didactic methods introducing light and colour and their interaction. Artistic research with monochromatic light on coloured surfaces is also described.
Learning to comprehend light
The colour and shadow of daylight and dynamic white artificial light are examined with different settings separately and combined illuminating neutral white props as well as painted colour samples.
Lights with coloured filters are combined and illuminating white as well as coloured objects.
Colour bleeding from local or exterior contaminators is discussed as well as colour desaturation in dark environments.
Sketching design with colour and light in scale models are proposed and examples of scaling light and surface patterns are described. In digital 3D models the importance of understanding object and surface properties like roughness, reflection and refraction are discussed.
The representation of light and colour in the form of photographs and digital renderings are also covered. White Balance, exposure, brightness, contrast and vibrance are discussed as well as issues with photographing LED light.
Artistic research
An artistic research project is presented exploring the perception of colour on uniform objects with different surface properties illuminated with monochromatic and white light. The research includes a 3D digital twin with PBR Material properties and IES light simulating the physical setup.
Conclusion
Concluding the paper the various factors influencing the perception of surface colour are listed and the relation between them is discussed.
Visual colour is not a constant, our perception of colour is depending on surface properties, light qualities, and context as well as cultural and historic values.
Learning to comprehend light is the foundation for understanding the influence of light on our perception of colour and space and a skill of importance for architectural design. This paper presents a series of exercises and didactic methods introducing light and colour and their interaction. Artistic research with monochromatic light on coloured surfaces is also described.
Learning to comprehend light
The colour and shadow of daylight and dynamic white artificial light are examined with different settings separately and combined illuminating neutral white props as well as painted colour samples.
Lights with coloured filters are combined and illuminating white as well as coloured objects.
Colour bleeding from local or exterior contaminators is discussed as well as colour desaturation in dark environments.
Sketching design with colour and light in scale models are proposed and examples of scaling light and surface patterns are described. In digital 3D models the importance of understanding object and surface properties like roughness, reflection and refraction are discussed.
The representation of light and colour in the form of photographs and digital renderings are also covered. White Balance, exposure, brightness, contrast and vibrance are discussed as well as issues with photographing LED light.
Artistic research
An artistic research project is presented exploring the perception of colour on uniform objects with different surface properties illuminated with monochromatic and white light. The research includes a 3D digital twin with PBR Material properties and IES light simulating the physical setup.
Conclusion
Concluding the paper the various factors influencing the perception of surface colour are listed and the relation between them is discussed.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 2025 |
| Status | Ikke-udgivet - 2025 |
| Begivenhed | NAF/NAAR Symposium 2025: Light and Colour in Architecture - NTNU, Trondheim, Norge Varighed: 13 nov. 2025 → 14 nov. 2025 https://www.ntnu.edu/light-and-colour-2025 |
Konference
| Konference | NAF/NAAR Symposium 2025: Light and Colour in Architecture |
|---|---|
| Lokation | NTNU |
| Land/Område | Norge |
| By | Trondheim |
| Periode | 13/11/2025 → 14/11/2025 |
| Internetadresse |
Kunstnerisk udviklingsvirksomhed (KUV)
- Nej