Background

In many ways color deficient observers respond differently to colors than normal trichromats. In this activity you can try a couple of different ways that have been devised to test color vision. The first task is the classic Ishihara task and the second is called the color arrangment test. It is important to note, that these tasks are meant to be done under careful conditions controlling the stimulus and the lighting in the room. Over the web, such control is impossible, so all results are approximate. If the results suggest you have a color deficiency, see and optometrist or opthamologist to verify these results.

Ishihara Test

The link below will take you to an online version of the Ishihara test discussed in the book. Refer to it for more information. One of the limitations of the Ishihara is that it is designed to determine versions of red-green color deficiency. It does not even discrminate, without careful scoring, between protanopes and deuteranopes. But it is an easy test and very reliable.

Ishihara Test

Color Arrangement

In this task, you are given a starting color and a set of colors to pick from. Your job is to pick the color that is most similar to this starting color and then the color most similar to this second color, and so on. You will finally pick all colors. What is nice about this task is that it can determine color normal and the major types of dichromacy by looking at your results.

Color Arrangement test