warna

Warna is the term in Indonesian and Malay for color. In science, color is the perceptual attribute of objects and light that enables the human visual system to distinguish between different wavelengths. Light at specific wavelengths triggers photoreceptor cells in the retina called cones; the brain interprets the signals as distinct hues such as red, blue, and green. Color perception depends on lighting conditions and the material properties of surfaces.

Warna encompasses hue, saturation, and brightness. Hue denotes the type of color, saturation its intensity, and brightness its perceived lightness. Color is often described using spaces or models such as RGB for digital displays, CMYK for printing, and HSV/HSL as practical tools for selection and design. Colorimetry and color-difference metrics, such as Delta E, provide objective ways to compare colors.

Materials used to impart warna include pigments, dyes, and structural colors. Pigments and dyes absorb some wavelengths and reflect others, while structural colors arise from microscopic textures that interfere with light. Practical color work also considers metamerism, where color matches under one light source may fail under another.

Culturally, warna carries varied meanings across communities and contexts. In Indonesian usage, phrases like warna kulit (skin color), warna-warni (multicolor), and pewarna (colorant) illustrate everyday language. Color theory informs art, design, branding, and technology, balancing perceptual effects with technical constraints.