Spalva

Spalva is the Lithuanian word for color. In everyday use, it refers to the property of objects and light that can be described in terms of hue, saturation, and brightness.

In physics, color arises from light in the visible spectrum, roughly 380 to 750 nanometers. White light contains all wavelengths; when it strikes matter, wavelengths are absorbed or reflected, producing perceived color.

Color perception occurs in the eye, with cone cells sensitive to different parts of the spectrum; the brain interprets signals as colors. The trichromatic theory explains how three types of cones enable color vision, while later theories account for phenomena such as afterimages and color mixing.

Color spaces and mixing: Additive color mixing uses light; RGB is the common model for displays and digital images. Subtractive color mixing uses pigments or dyes; CMYK is used in printing. Primary colors differ by model: red, green, and blue for light; cyan, magenta, and yellow for pigments. Traditional painting often uses red, yellow, and blue as primaries.

Cultural and practical aspects: Colors carry symbolic meanings that vary by culture and context, influencing art, design, and communication. In technology and industry, color management aims to reproduce consistent colors across devices through standards, color profiles, and calibrated displays, ensuring that colors look the same on screens, prints, and products. The term spalva thus encompasses both the physical phenomenon of color and its broad linguistic and cultural usage in Lithuanian.