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General Information about Impossible Colors

Introduction to Impossible Colors

Impossible colors, or forbidden colors, are colors that cannot be perceived ordinarily by the human eye. These colors are termed 'impossible' as they fall outside the typical range of colors within our visual color spectrum, making them a fascinating subject of study and exploration. The concept of impossible colors challenges the boundaries of our natural visual capabilities, opening up vastly greater dimensions of color perception that otherwise seem utterly unreachable.

Impossible color combinations are a major subset of the superordinate impossible colors.

Creation of Impossible Colors Combinations

The creation of impossible colors involves a blend of understanding our visual system's inherent characteristics and exploiting its redundancies. One primary method to achieve this is through a technique called binocular color combination, which revolves around the concept of breaking binocular redundancy. Since our vision is binocular, meaning we use two eyes to perceive the world, this dual perspective normally just provides us with depth perception and a wider field of view. But by manipulating the way each eye perceives color and then combining these perceptions we can experience impossible color combinations.

Specialized tools and technologies play a crucial role in unlocking the perception of impossible color combinations. For instance, linear 45°/135° polarization glasses with a specific degree of tilt in each lens can introduce impossible color combinations in the form of impossible brightness combinations of the same color into our vision. Moreover, applications like Color in Color are being developed to simulate these experiences of impossible color combinations, allowing users to see the same images and videos in different colors in each eye, leading to the brain blending these separate stimuli into new color experiences.

The 'Magic' of Impossible Color Combinations

The allure of impossible color combinations lies in their ability to augment our color vision and step into a realm of visual perception that once seemed utterly impossible. They are not just a theoretical concept but can be visualized with the right tools, helping us intuitively grasp their nature. For instance, impossible color combinations can introduce new colors into a simple gradient from white to black, going beyond the usual transition while paradoxically staying within its bounds. This results in an exponentially greater number of possible impossible color combinations, expanding the horizons of our visual perception.

Impact on Everyday Life

While the concept of impossible colors might seem abstract, its exploration can have tangible impacts on our everyday life. By understanding and creatively manipulating the inherent traits of our vision, we can train our brains to comprehend these extraordinary color experiences. This exploration pushes the boundaries of what we previously thought unimaginable, leading to advancements in visual technologies, design, art, and more.

Experiencing the Impossible

The journey towards perceiving impossible colors requires a blend of understanding, technology, and practice. With consistent exposure and technological aid, individuals can train their brains to interpret impossible color combinations more accurately, consistently and stably. My application Color in Color and the use of specialized glasses are the first but powerful stepping stones towards making the perception of impossible colors a reality for more individuals. As we continue to explore and push the boundaries of our visual perception, who knows what other 'impossible' realms of color we might unlock in the future.