värikuvaprosessit

Värikuvaprosessit, also known as color photographic processes, refer to the various methods developed to reproduce photographic images in color. These processes aim to capture and represent the full spectrum of colors present in a scene, unlike monochrome photography which only records shades of gray.

The fundamental principle behind most color photographic processes involves the use of multiple layers of light-sensitive materials, each designed to respond to different portions of the visible spectrum. Typically, three primary colors – cyan, magenta, and yellow – are used as subtractive primaries. When light passes through these colored layers, specific wavelengths are absorbed, and the remaining light creates the color image.

Early color processes, such as the Autochrome Lumière introduced in 1907, were additive, using tiny colored grains to filter light. Later, subtractive processes became dominant, with advancements leading to film-based methods like Kodachrome and Agfacolor Neu in the mid-20th century. These films featured complex emulsion layers containing color couplers that formed dyes during the development process.

Digital photography has largely replaced traditional film-based color processes. Digital sensors capture light intensity for each of the primary colors (red, green, and blue) at each pixel location. This information is then processed by algorithms to reconstruct a full-color image, often displayed on screens or printed using color inkjets or other modern printing technologies. Despite the shift to digital, the underlying principles of color perception and reproduction remain conceptually linked to the historical development of värikuvaprosessit.