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Photonics Dictionary

Abney effect

The Abney effect, named after its discoverer Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney, refers to a phenomenon in color perception where the appearance of a color is influenced by the brightness of its surroundings. Specifically, it describes how the perceived hue of a color can change when it is viewed against different levels of luminance (brightness).

In simpler terms, the Abney effect suggests that the perception of color can be altered by the presence and intensity of surrounding light or the brightness of adjacent colors. This effect is particularly noticeable in situations where colors are viewed against backgrounds of varying brightness levels, leading to shifts in how we perceive their hues and contrasts.
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