Color Sequence Editor 1.0

This page describes a freely downloadable color sequence editor called CIEluv_CSE. It is optimized to create "spiral color sequences" (Ware, 1988). Read on to find out what a spiral color sequence is and why it is a good idea.<br />Pseudo-color sequences are sequences of colors used to visually code scientific data, such as weather maps or astronomical radiation maps. An example is shown to the right. Various researchers have suggested that a good color sequence should increase continuously in luminance (or lightness) [Ware, 1988; Boreland and Taylor, 2007]. This is because the shape perception mechanisms of human vision operate primarily through the so-called "luminance channel" as opposed to the "chromatic channels". On the other hand, if it is important to be able to read values accurately using a key (think of the key of a weather map), having a sequence that traverses through a lot of colors makes for more accuracy. Thus, the ideal color sequence should be one that cycle through a lot of colors while continuously increasing in luminance.<br />Another issue in color sequence design is the size of the gaps between adjacent colors. Sometimes researchers want colors separated in perceptually equal steps. Sometimes it is useful to have colors bunched up for certain data ranges. A method for creating perceptually equal steps can be based on a concept from color science called the uniform color space. A uniform color space (UCS) enables the transformation of the Red, Green and Blue monitor colors into a space so that equal distances on the screen should produce a standard amount of color difference. In our CIEluv_CSE editor we used the Commission International d'Leclairage's CIEluv UCS color transformation [Schanda, 2007].

Requirements:	No special requirements
Platforms:	Mac, Mac OSX
Keyword:	Adjacent,  Bunched,  Design,  Issue,  Perceptually,  Separated,  Steps
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