General Color Color Principles Understanding color begins with understanding light. Light travels in waves like water. Visible light waves are so short that they are measured in units equal to one billionth of a meter. Visible light waves are categorized by length, and a waves length determines the colors that we will see. Violet wavelengths are the shortest waves of visible light.
Red wavelengths are at the other end of the spectrum.
These waves travel at fantastic speeds - 186,000 miles per second. Color perception is also affected by the environment in which the color is seen. Daylight is rich in bluish tones because of the presence of ultraviolet radiation. Incandescent light and candle light are rich in yellow tones. The perception of any color requires the presence of light.