ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Color appearance model

A color appearance model is a way to describe how we see colors. Imagine a box of crayons with different colors like red, blue, green, and yellow. When you look at these colors, your eyes see different amounts of light. Your brain then takes that information and tells you what color you are seeing.

A color appearance model helps explain why we see colors differently in different situations. For example, two people might be looking at the same red apple, but one person might think it looks brighter than the other person. This could be because the lighting in the room is different, or because one person's eyes are better at seeing certain colors.

Scientists have created different models to help explain how we see colors. One popular model is called the CIELAB model. This model uses three numbers to describe a color: L, a, and b. L stands for lightness, which is how bright or dark the color is. A and b are two other numbers that describe the color's hue (like whether it is more red or more green) and saturation (how pure the color is).

By using a color appearance model, scientists can better understand how our eyes see color and how we can improve things like color accuracy in photography or on computer screens.