Take the Colorblindness Test
In the world of color, many factors impact the ability to
reproduce good color. The most basic (and often overlooked) factor is the
ability to see color correctly. The lack of this ability is called
colorblindness. About 8% of the male population suffers from colorblindness,
while less then 1% of females do.
There are different types of
colorblindness that affect which colors cannot be perceived as different, and
how limited the differentiation is. Surprisingly, many eye doctors do not
administer colorblindness tests as a part of the routine eye examination.
Although we all know that the colors viewed on your computer's monitor are
not accurate for print reproduction, your screen color is probably good enough
to yield reasonably accurate colorblindness test results. We invite you now to
test yourself for colorblindness online.
Color Blindness
Tests
Begin with the
simplest of colorblindness tests by Alan R Miller of
New Mexico Tech.
The most famous colorblindness test was created by
Dr. Shinobu Ishihara of University of Tokyo. If you visit an ophthalmologist
you will most likely be given some variation of this test. Click here to
take the Ishihara Test.
A unique and very
interesting variant to most conventional colorblindness tests has been
developed by Aaron Clauset of Haverford College. Unlike most tests, which
require good color vision, only the colorblind can pass his tests! Click here
to
take the Clauset Test.
Aaron's friend and
collaborator Nick Yee even takes this test a step further on his website by
including a graphic that reveals one thing to the colorblind and another to
those with normal vision. Click here to
take the Yee test.
A highly interactive test developed by Jean
Jouannic not only detects colorblindness (or Daltonism, as it is also called)
but also attempts to diagnose the specific type and degree of color blindness.
Click here to
take the Jouannic test. This may be the most useful
test on our site.
The majority of the population is not truly
colorblind, yet there exists a wide variation in the ability of individuals to
resolve subtle variations in color. A test developed by Diana Derval measures
color acuity which varies depending upon the number of color receptor cones in
an individual's eye. Click here to take the
Derval Color Nuance Test.
Instrument maker X-Rite,
whose empire include color standards company Pantone, should know color. Click
here to
take the X-Rite Color Challenge. Too bad X-Rite opted to make this test
more entertaining than helpful.
These tests do not constitute medical
advise. If after taking these tests you believe that you may be colorblind,
Copresco suggests that your next step be to find an optometrist or
ophthalmologist who is comfortable diagnosing and evaluating colorblindness.
Choose your eye doctor carefully; not all are skilled in this area.
In Conclusion
Remember,
colorblindness comes in varying degrees. Just because someone doesn't run
stoplights doesn't mean that they won't have difficulty properly evaluating
accurate color reproduction on the printed page!
More Color Links of Interest:
Sunglasses Could Correct Color Blindness
Science and Technology Offer Hope for Colorblindness
His and Her Colors: Color Names by Gender Preference
Exploring
Color for Kids, Parents and Teachers
These Skulls Look Purple and Orange. They Are Both Red.
The Science Behind The White Dress/Blue Dress
Controversy:
Color-Perception Part 1: The Effect Of Light
Color-Perception Part 2: The Impact In Manufacturing
Color-Perception Part 3: The Tricks The Environment Plays On
Our Eyes
Color-Perception Part 4: Human Traits
