The Art and Science of Color Perception

Explore how different people perceive color through this interactive Ishihara-style test generator. Create customized plates to understand color blindness and test visual perception.

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For most people, the world appears in a rich tapestry of colors. But for approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide, color vision deficiencies alter this perception dramatically. What appears as a vibrant red to one person might look like a muted brown to another.

Color blindness isn't about seeing the world in black and white (though this rarest form does exist). Instead, it's about having difficulty distinguishing between certain colors. The most common forms affect red-green perception, while rarer variants impact blue-yellow differentiation.

"Color blindness often goes undiagnosed, yet it affects how people navigate everything from traffic lights to data visualizations. Creating accessible designs isn't just inclusive—it's essential."

— Dr. Marianna Korsik, Vision Researcher

This interactive tool helps you understand these perceptual differences through the lens of Ishihara-style tests—the distinctive, dotted circular plates that have been used to diagnose color vision deficiencies since 1917.

Pattern & Display ▼

Dots: 600

More dots create a denser pattern, making the test more challenging but potentially more accurate.

Size: 5

Spread: 10

Select Pattern:

Normal Vision (Trichromatic) ▼

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Figure

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Distinguishable: --

Background Color

Red 26

Green 204

Blue 26

Figure Color

Red 230

Green 51

Blue 51

Normal vision (trichromacy) perceives the full spectrum of colors through three types of cone cells in the retina.

Deuteranopia (Red-Green) ►

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Figure

Contrast ratio: --

WCAG Rating: --

Distinguishable: --

Deuteranopia affects ~6% of males and causes difficulty distinguishing between reds and greens due to missing medium-wavelength cones.

Background Color

Red 179

Green 179

Blue 179

Figure Color

Red 191

Green 191

Blue 191

Protanopia (Red-Green) ►

Background

Figure

Contrast ratio: --

WCAG Rating: --

Distinguishable: --

Protanopia affects ~1% of males and causes reduced sensitivity to red light due to missing long-wavelength cones.

Background Color

Red 150

Green 100

Blue 100

Figure Color

Red 200

Green 50

Blue 50

Normal Vision A

Normal Vision B

Deuteranopia A

Deuteranopia B

Protanopia A

Protanopia B

Normal vs Deuteranopia

Deuteranopia vs Protanopia

Understanding Color Vision

This interactive tool helps you understand how color perception varies among people with different types of color vision. Each plate shows how the same pattern might be visible (or invisible) to people with different forms of color blindness.

The Science of Color Perception

Human color vision relies on three types of cone cells in the retina, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light: long (red), medium (green), and short (blue). Color blindness occurs when one or more of these cone types is missing or functions abnormally.

Protanopia: Missing or abnormal L-cones (red)
Deuteranopia: Missing or abnormal M-cones (green)
Tritanopia: Missing or abnormal S-cones (blue)
Achromatopsia: Complete absence of cone function

Designing for Inclusivity

When creating visual content, consider these best practices to ensure your designs are accessible to people with color vision deficiencies:

Use high contrast between foreground and background
Avoid problematic color combinations like red/green or blue/yellow
Include patterns or shapes alongside color coding
Test your designs with color blindness simulators
Use colorblind-friendly palettes in charts and graphs

About Ishihara Tests

Ishihara color tests were developed by Dr. Shinobu Ishihara in 1917 during his military service. The distinctive, dotted circular plates became the global standard for diagnosing color vision deficiencies. The carefully calibrated colors reveal numbers or paths that are visible to those with normal color vision but invisible or altered for those with color blindness.

The success of these tests relies on pseudoisochromatic colors—hues that appear identical to someone with color blindness but distinct to those with normal vision. This tool lets you experiment with creating your own Ishihara-style plates while learning about color perception.

Live Color Vision Simulator

See the world through different eyes. This tool lets you experience how people with various types of color vision deficiency perceive their surroundings.

Original

Simulation

How This Works

The simulator applies mathematical color transformations to simulate how people with different color vision deficiencies see colors. This can help designers create more accessible content and help others understand the challenges of color blindness.

Live Audio-Visual Dots Generator

Transform your environment into a dynamic, interactive Ishihara-style pattern experience that responds to movement and sound.

Try our enhanced dedicated live generator New

Features advanced audio-visual mapping, more color options, and a node-based interface

Sensitivity: Density: Size:

The Art and Science of Color Perception

Background Color

Figure Color

Background Color

Figure Color

Background Color

Figure Color

Understanding Color Vision

The Science of Color Perception

Designing for Inclusivity

About Ishihara Tests

Live Color Vision Simulator

How This Works

Live Audio-Visual Dots Generator

Captured Images