Adapting to an enhanced color gamut – implications for color vision and color deficiencies

Abstract

One strategy for aiding color deficiencies is to use three narrow passbands to filter the light spectrum to increase the saturation of colors. This filtering is analogous to the narrow emission bands used in wide gamut lighting or displays. We examined how perception adapts to the greater color gamut area produced by such devices, testing color-normal observers and simulated environments. Narrowband spectra increased chromatic contrasts but also increased contrast adaptation, partially offsetting the perceived contrast enhancements. Such adaptation adjustments are important for understanding the perceptual consequences of exposure to naturally or artificially enhanced color gamut areas for both color-deficient and color-normal observers.