The importance of atmospheres
This column starts with a question from the editors of luxlumina, who wanted to know what I think of the new CRI standard for determining color rendering TM30-15. As is sometimes the case with simple questions, there is no quick answer, as assessments such as “useful” or “overdue” do not help the reader to understand. My answer to this question can therefore only be found at the end of this article. Every technical question about the quality of light inevitably leads us to a problem of perceptual psychology that cannot be answered by specifying physical quantities and their explanations. The ancient Greek term “téchne” is rooted in the search for rules and methods. So what do we want to gain control over through technology and what is the aim of our methods? The common goal is to create atmospheres, which is why it is equally important for technicians and designers to understand the complexity of this perceptual phenomenon.
Light and color are natural phenomena whose effects cannot be explained but must be experienced. Color and light are two sides of the same perceptual phenomenon, since color shines and light colors. The light colors of the sun create an atmospheric glow from which the body colors of the material world emerge in their recognizable form. Without light, there are no colors, no sky, no horizon, no expansive landscapes, no figurations. We would immerse ourselves in the world of the blind, where color and light are empty words.
Further information on the topic of color perception and communication in: Axel Buether: The formation of spatial-visual competence. Neurobiological foundations for the methodical promotion of vivid perception, imagination and representation in the design and communication process, Series No. 23 Burg Giebichenstein Halle 2010
