Author Topic: Flash Toy of the Week: How Well Can you Differentiate Colors? (Read 58,751 times)

mouser · « **on:** September 16, 2008, 07:32 PM »

I recently made a few trips back and forth to the paint store trying to find an acceptable match for the colors on my ceiling so I could do some touchup painting.

I started wondering: what are the chances that I could find a color close enough to the current one that *I* personally wouldn't see any difference, but others who have better color perception might see clearly the differences and therefore perceive the ceiling and wall as being painted with two different colors of paints.

So I was happy to find this little online flash test which challenges you to line up color hues in order to see how sensitive you are to small differences. I suspect the quality of your monitor could effect the test someone, but very cool idea and quite useful.

http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77

I got a 32 without obsessing over perfection:

what score do you get?

from http://www.downloadsquad.com

Deozaan · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2008, 07:49 PM »

Seems kind of interesting. I played around with the top row for a bit but since I don't have time to really sort them out (I'm procrastinating writing an essay just typing this) I quit once the top row was in a close order (not obsessing over perfection).

fenixproductions · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:10 PM »

Nice test.
I've just made my "bubble sorting" and that's what I have:
[attachthumb=#]
PS. My eyes are in pain now

Niezbo · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:13 PM »

I really don't know how I made it... (I didn't cheating)

wow, i see I'm not the only one...

mouser · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:14 PM »

i'm envious.

fenixproductions · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:19 PM »

2mouser
You shouldn't be. Just watch out in the forest

Grorgy · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:29 PM »

oh me oh my, I must be getting old, my eyes are wearing out

Score = 30

scancode · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:35 PM »

Score = 8

Should I quit designing GUIs?

mouser · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2008, 09:44 PM »

8 is very good.. the lower the score the better.

Jesper Hertel · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2008, 10:15 PM »

Don't feel bad mouser, my score was 33, and I thought I did a good job – although I knew it wasn't perfect, as it was quite hard for me to see much difference between adjacent colors.

[attachthumb=#]

I am sure that the problem lies in the quality of our screens, it can't be our eyes.

By the way, did you notice how even (flat) your distribution was, mouser? I am not quite sure what that means, but it is quite impressive.

Grorgy · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2008, 10:20 PM »

It may have something to do with the different ways cats see colour

Jesper Hertel · « **Reply #11 on:** September 16, 2008, 10:27 PM »

Hahahaha, you're absolutely right, Grorgy!

Give us a test where we have to differ between shades of really dark colours, and we'll show the others!

Although... I'm not quite sure my cheap laptop screen can live up to my perfect night vision...

cranioscopical · « **Reply #12 on:** September 16, 2008, 10:45 PM »

I'm not taking the test.

For the past seven years I've been living in a house where a number of areas are painted white.

My wife recently informed me that NONE of these areas is white, that every one is a different pastel shade.

After a little thought I decided that if I believe the areas are white that's good enough for me.
I don't want to live in a house with pastel shades.

It all comes down to attitude, and that's all white with me.

Deozaan · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2008, 11:44 PM »

Quote from: cranioscopical on September 16, 2008, 10:45 PM

I'm not taking the test.

For the past seven years I've been living in a house where a number of areas are painted white.

My wife recently informed me that NONE of these areas is white, that every one is a different pastel shade.

After a little thought I decided that if I believe the areas are white that's good enough for me.
I don't want to live in a house with pastel shades.

It all comes down to attitude, and that's all white with me.

Totally worth it!

Eóin · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2008, 12:42 AM »

Scored 4, not too bad. The demographics bit didn't make much sense, not sure if it's even working?

fenixproductions · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2008, 12:56 AM »

2cranioscopical
Maybe those walls are not the matter of your eyes but "how much do you care?".

Personally: I scored 0 points but I would never see hairstyle change on woman's head until complete baldness

alivingspirit · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2008, 01:28 AM »

Ow! My eyes hurt and I also only scored a 4.

app103 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2008, 01:55 AM »

My daughter was telling me about this one the other day. She scored a 0.

I scored a 23, and considering that I am not running in true color here, I'd say that was pretty good.

I'll try it again when I have a better graphics card and don't have to make a choice of resolution over color. (currently can't have true color unless I am willing to run with 800x600 on a 17" monitor...eww!)

BTW...this is not flash.

app103 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2008, 02:04 AM »

Quote from: mouser on September 16, 2008, 07:32 PM

I started wondering: what are the chances that I could find a color close enough to the current one that *I* personally wouldn't see any difference, but others who have better color perception might see clearly the differences and therefore perceive the ceiling and wall as being painted with two different colors of paints.

Either buy enough paint to repaint the whole ceiling and have extra to last as touch-up paint for as long as you plan on living there. (and hope it doesn't harden in the can when stored)

Or send all your real life friends to take this test and invite all the ones that score a 0 to your place to help you match color chips, before heading to the store.

Deozaan · « **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2008, 02:38 AM »

Quote from: mouser on September 16, 2008, 09:44 PM

the lower the score the better.

Is this true?

CleverCat · « **Reply #20 on:** September 17, 2008, 07:20 AM »

Quote from: cranioscopical on September 16, 2008, 10:45 PM

I'm not taking the test.

For the past seven years I've been living in a house where a number of areas are painted white.

My wife recently informed me that NONE of these areas is white, that every one is a different pastel shade.

After a little thought I decided that if I believe the areas are white that's good enough for me.
I don't want to live in a house with pastel shades.

It all comes down to attitude, and that's all white with me.

Didn't u know women perceive colour better than men?

CleverCat · « **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2008, 07:27 AM »

Can't see any 'test' on that page??? Just a black square with couple links at bottom...

justice · « **Reply #22 on:** September 17, 2008, 12:02 PM »

Interesting test, wonder if an alternative could be made that spots color blindness.
[attachimg=#]

mahesh2k · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2008, 12:20 PM »

I'm Blind

Oh No,I'm DareDevil

My Score is Damn High

Eóin · « **Reply #24 on:** September 17, 2008, 01:31 PM »

Quote from: CleverCat on September 17, 2008, 07:20 AM

Didn't u know women perceive colour better than men?

This is supposed to be true which is why I'd love to see some demographics to see how pronounced the difference really is.