Editorial. Exploring the Spectrum: Color in Science and Society

Abstract

Dear Esteemed Readers[1],

Welcome to our newest journal issue, where we take you on an insightful journey through the rich tapestry of color across a variety of disciplines, from the harmonious hues of architectural design to the perceptual dynamics of our animal companions and from the subtle intricacies of hair coloring to the sensory allure of wine.

We are welcomed into the fascinating world of hair coloring in "Assessment of Base Color Influence on the Chromatic Appearance of hair colorants," written by Simone Liberini, Roberta Suardi, Alessandro Rizzi, and Giannantonio Negretti. Their detailed analysis clarifies the intricate interactions between applied colorants and underlying pigmentation, providing critical new understandings of the perceptual processes influencing our taste in art and how we express ourselves.

Meanwhile, in "Wine Chromatics: The Colorful Language of Wine's Characteristics," Alessandro Bortolotti, Loreta Cannito, Stefano Anzani, and Riccardo Palumbo reveal the enormous influence of color on marketing and sensory experiences. They reveal the complex relationship between perception and color through well-planned tests, showing how different hues affect our expectations and preferences and how much we like wine.

Gianluca Guarini and Maurizio Rossi delve into the field of design and architecture with their paper, "A review on the open issue of color consistency in software for building information modeling systems and real-time visualization." Their investigation explores the real-world difficulties in preserving color integrity in virtual environments, providing priceless information about the instruments and procedures necessary for visual coherence between virtual and real-world representations.

In their study "The development of a color chart in conceptual fashion collections: do consumers perceive what color semantics want to convey?" Ítalo José de Medeiros Dantas, Camila Assis Peres Silva, and Marcelo Curth highlight the complex relationship between designer purpose and consumer interpretation in the fashion world. They provide new insights into the mutually beneficial link between color, communication, and cultural significance by revealing the intricate semiotic components in color selections within fashion collections through an inventive fusion of qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Francesca Valan, Pietro Paglierani, and Chiara Scopa explain "A leap in the color! " in a remarkable investigation of animal vision. How knowledge of color vision enhances the welfare and performance of horses in show jumping." Their study emphasizes the vital role that color plays in the health and performance of showjumping horses. It also advances our knowledge of interspecies communication and interaction. It provides valuable insights into how best to construct obstacles for equestrian sports.

In his study "Reversal film transparencies and their colors: examining the medium of an era," Nicholas Lourantos transports us to ancient times through the vivid colors of the past. Lourantos deconstructs the ongoing appeal of color reversal film transparencies through historical research and empirical analysis. He provides critical new insights into their preservation as cultural objects and their function in forming communal memory and identity.

Kine Angelo and Alex Booker provide a thought-provoking talk titled "Colour Composition and Visual Tectonics in Facades; Adapting Colour Teaching to Current Architectural Practice," which calls for a paradigm change in architectural education incorporating colour theory more deeply. With a wealth of knowledge from both academia and practice, they highlight the transformative power of color in architectural discourse and practice, providing convincing instances of how color theory can improve architectural pedagogy and professional practice.

Finally, we are delighted to present the paper concerning Clino Trini Castelli's work "The 'Color Fever' Chroma Survey 1973". In this perceptive essay, Castelli considers the revolutionary changes in color culture that occurred in the early 1970s and gave rise to the "Color Fever" phenomena. Castelli reveals the underlying changes in how society views color saturation by painstaking observation and analysis, pointing to a move away from strict mathematical paradigms and toward a more nuanced comprehension of color's qualitative aspects. This groundbreaking study provides a fascinating account of how cultural changes and historical occurrences combine to create our collective "sentiment of color," setting the stage for further investigations into color theory and aesthetics.

It is becoming clearer that color is more than just a visual phenomenon. Instead, it is a multidimensional prism through which we see, communicate, and understand the world. This is evident as we explore the varied landscapes of color science and its numerous applications. The articles in this issue are intended to stimulate more investigation, discussion, and cooperation while cultivating a greater understanding of the complex web of life and its enormous effects on science, society, and culture.

Warm regards,

April 2024
The Editor-in-Chief
Maurizio Rossi
Full professor of Design
Politecnico di Milano

[1] Colour (UK) or Color (US)? In our Journal, both terms are allowed as long as they are consistent within an article. The exception is given by this editorial in which I use color as on our website. Still, sometimes colour could appear to respect the original title of a paper.