2D Color Space Analysis
5yr
In these images we have two portraits, the first by Sargent and the second by Solomon. Both contain pretty simple analogous color schemes but, as the shape of the color map shows, with diferent levels of saturation mostly within the yellow-orange spectrum.
So, along with the master study course I am preparing for I am looking at different ways to assess and analyze the color in a portrait. The difficulty translating oil paint into digital color expressions is that most color in an oil painting is a result of the mixing of literal physical pigments rather that selecting a pixel of color (as it is done digitally). So I developed this color wheel to simulate the neutralization of a hue by mixing with it's complement (red mixed with green for instance). What I can't figure out how to do is how to show the values as well without making the model 3D... Still working on that. Eventually I want to perfect the analysis model so that I can compare the color expressions of artists throughout their career and also to compare between artists. It could also be use to compare color expressions between eras- What color world was available to Velasquez via the pigments availabel at that time vs. as artist with all of the modern synthetic pigments we have today...
Asked for help
Just a Beta test note: the link "https://dakokohler.com/color-plots"; might want to open up in a different tab, so I don't lose my place in when browsing the community interaction.
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5yr
Great point David! Thank you. We'll make all links in community posts open in a new tab.
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5yr
In addition to the hue-saturstion chart you can make a hue-value chart. It's not as complete as a 3d chart would be, but it might be enough for analyzing individual paintings.
I think a 3d chart would be the only way to show all the information, mapping hue x saturation x value. And if going so far as comparing the color fingerprint of artists or eras, it makes sense to compare with more accurate 3d charts.
It wouldn't be too hard to make a python script that plots each pixel in the HSL color space. This might be difficult for humans to look at and clearly see what's happening, but it'd be easy for a script to compare thousands of paintings to find patterns. Potentially those patterns could be useful.
The chart image below is plotted is RGB color space but can just as easily be plotted to HSL.
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5yr
I do like a lot the cylindrical color space- almost like its a 3D bar graph. More simple than the Munsel color space but also more readable. The only drawback that I can think of is that it can't show all of the colors/saturation levels at once.
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5yr
Lol looks like this guy did exactly what we're talking about. In his conclusion he even suggests comparing artists. I wonder if he ever took it further.
https://dakokohler.com/color-plots
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5yr
I have also been debating whether or not to incorporate points in the center to stand in for non-detected hues. Like in the map for the Sargent painting the blueviolet spectrum wasn't detected so there isn't any point there to represent it.
