trichromic

Trichromic refers to a system or phenomenon involving three colors. In the context of human vision, it describes trichromatic color vision, which is the ability to perceive a full spectrum of colors based on the stimulation of three types of cone cells in the retina. Each cone type is most sensitive to a different wavelength of light: red, green, and blue. The brain then interprets the signals from these cones to create the perception of all visible colors. This is the typical color vision for most humans.

The term trichromic can also apply to other contexts where three colors are fundamental. For example, some printing processes, like CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), use three primary subtractive colors (cyan, magenta, and yellow) to reproduce a wide range of colors, with black added for deeper tones and contrast. In lighting, a trichromatic light source is one that emits light composed of three specific wavelengths, often red, green, and blue, to create white light or a spectrum of colors. The concept signifies a system that relies on the additive or subtractive interplay of three distinct color components.