1551-6709/asset/COGS_left.gif?v=1&s=e6356e7948de0d0d2160ef560660ca21adae9c8c)
1551-6709/asset/COGS_right.gif?v=1&s=057fe71f80a24ff4016ade3c8aace8dd77cc980f)
Color Charts, Esthetics, and Subjective Randomness
Article first published online: 19 SEP 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1551-6709.2011.01198.x
Copyright © 2011 Cognitive Science Society, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Sanderson, Y. B. (2012), Color Charts, Esthetics, and Subjective Randomness. Cognitive Science, 36: 142–149. doi: 10.1111/j.1551-6709.2011.01198.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 11 JAN 2012
- Article first published online: 19 SEP 2011
- Received 7 October 2010; received in revised form 18 February 2011; accepted 20 February 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Color perception;
- Subjective randomness;
- Subjective complexity;
- Esthetics
Abstract
Color charts, or grids of evenly spaced multicolored dots or squares, appear in the work of modern artists and designers. Often the artist/designer distributes the many colors in a way that could be described as “random,” that is, without an obvious pattern. We conduct a statistical analysis of 125 “random-looking” art and design color charts and show that they differ significantly from truly random color charts in the average distance between adjacent colors. We argue that this attribute generalizes results in subjective randomness in a black/white setting and gives further evidence supporting a connection between subjective randomness and what is esthetically pleasing.