The purpose of this experiment is to explore the effects of black and white backgrounds on a subjects' discrimination ability of various saturations. Different light can make a color appear to be a different hue. Also, similar to what will be attempted in this experiment, brightness contrast makes the same color appear different when appearing on a different colored background. Coren, and Hakstian(1995) used simple techniques to test color discrimination, and this experiment will follow that with the addition of a background color in order to see if a color will appear more saturated on a black background and less saturated on a white background.
METHODS
Fifteen subjects were chosen from among the students of Alma College. Subjects were between the ages of 18 and 22 and a random mix of males and females. The materials the experiment required included 3 samples of a color, varying in saturation, and 5 samples of the same color in a slightly different hue, with varying saturations. Munsell's 100-Hue Test were used, with samples from each of the following colors; red, blue and green. The 3 samples were placed on a background of black and white. The 5 samples of a different hue were on a grey background. The subjects were also given a trial sheet with 2 columns, for black and white backgrounds, and 6 trials for each color.
The subject was shown the three colors on each of the two backgrounds one at a time and in a varied order, determined before the experiment, for two seconds. The order remained the same for all subjects. In this way the experimentors were able to coordinate the responses with the varying saturations and backgrounds. Subjects were asked to record on their trial sheet which of the five colors on the grey background the color on a background most closely resembled. This experiment was conducted under normal lighting in an available classroom downstairs.
RESULTS
The results showed that the different black or white backgrounds had no affect on the appearance of the different saturations. Most subjects were able to distinguish the same saturation of a different hue as shown by figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1 Saturation Choices for White Background
This graph shows the results when the white background was behind the color. The subjects did not record a significantly larger number of occurrences when the color shown on the background appeared to be less saturated than it actually was. The white background did not appear to have a significant effect on the distinguishing of color saturation.
Figure 2 Saturation Choices for Black Background
This graph shows the results when the black background was behind the color. The subjects did not record a significantly larger number of occurrences when the color shown on the background appeared to be more saturated than it actually was. The black background did not appear to have a significant effect on the distinguishing of color saturation.
DISCUSSION
The findings of this research did not prove the hypothesis that colors will appear more saturated when on a black background and lighter when on a white background. The subjects in this experiment were able to distinguish a similar saturation even when the background was present. In terms of saturation, surroundings do not appear to play a large role. In this experiment it was found that a subject can distinguish the same saturation of a different hue regardless of the background color.