VIOLET (COLOR)

As the name of a color, 'Violet' (named after the flower violet) is used in two senses: first, referring to the color of light at the short-wavelength end of the visible spectrum, approximately 380–420 nm when indigo is recognized, or more commonly 380–450 nm^[1] (this is a spectral color). Secondly, ''violet'' may refer to a bluish purple, that is, a mixture of red and blue light, and not a spectral color (see a discussion of the distinction between violet and purple). Spectral violet is outside the gamut of typical RGB color spaces, and therefore cannot be reproduced exactly on a computer screen.
The complementary color of violet is the color chartreuse, a greenish yellow.

Contents

Variations of violet

Web color violet

Electric violet

Vivid violet

Deep violet

Pigment violet (web color dark violet)

Violet in culture

References

See also

Variations of violet

Web color violet

The so-called web color violet is similar to a rather pale magenta because it has equal amounts of red and blue, and some of the green primary mixed in, unlike most other variants that are closer to blue. This same color appears as "violet" in the X11 color names.
Another name for this color is ''lavender magenta''.

Electric violet

The color at right is 'electric violet', the closest approximation to ''spectrum violet'' that can be made on a computer screen, given the limitations of the color gamut within the CIE chromaticity diagram. This color would have approximately the hue of a visual stimulus of about 440 nm on the spectrum, in the middle of the violet part of the spectrum.

Vivid violet

Displayed at right is the color 'vivid violet', a color approximately equivalent to the violet seen at the extreme edge of human visual perception, with a hue corresponding to that of a visual stimulus of 400 nm on the spectrum.

Deep violet

Displayed at right is the color 'deep violet', a violet in brightness (value) between electric violet and pigment violet.

Pigment violet (web color dark violet)

The color box at right displays the web color 'dark violet' which is equivalent to 'pigment violet', i.e., the color violet as it would typically be reproduced by artist's paints, colored pencils, or crayons as opposed to the brighter "electric" violet above that it is possible to reproduce on a computer screen.
Compare the subtractive colors to the additive colors in the two primary color charts in the article on primary colors to see the distinction between electric colors as reproducible from light on a computer screen (additive colors) and the pigment colors reproducible with pigments (subtractive colors); the additive colors are a lot brighter because they are produced from light instead of pigment.
Pigment violet (web color dark violet) represents the way the color violet was always reproduced in pigments, paints, or colored pencils in the 1950s.
By the 1970s, because of the advent of psychedelic art, artists became used to brighter pigments, and pigments called "Violet" that are the pigment equivalent of the electric violet reproduced in the section above became available in artists pigments and colored pencils. (When approximating electric violet in artists pigments, a bit of white pigment is added to pigment violet.)

Violet in culture

'Art

★ In Chinese painting, the color violet represents the ''harmony of the universe'' because it is a combination of red (yang) and blue (yin). ^[2]
'Food'

★ The variety of eggplant known as Chinese eggplant has pigment violet colored skin.

★ The fruit known as blackberry is actually closer in color to a dark pigment violet.

★ Okinawan "yams" (actually a variety of sweet potato) are colored a deep lavender and in the Tagalog language of the Philippines are called "ube". They are ground up and cooked with sugar, yielding a bright violet colored jam called ''halaya ube'' which is sold in Filipino grocery stores. (To see a picture of an Okinawan yam, go to: [1])

★ In the United Kingdom in it is traditional to package chocolate in violet colored packaging because of the association of the color with luxury. ^[3]
'Jewels'

★ Amethysts are a shade of violet.
'New Age Philosophy'

★ Violet is used to symbolically represent the seventh (Sahasrara) chakra.
'Parapsychology'

★ Psychics who claim to be able to observe the aura with their third eye report that those who are practicing occultists (magickal thaumaturgists) often have a violet aura. ^[4] It is said that people with violet auras are forward looking visionaries who may be in occupations such as performance artist, photographer, venture capitalist, astronaut, futurist, or quantum physicist. ^[5]
'Religion'

★ Violet is the color associated with the New Age deity Saint Germain.

★ ''The Invocation of the Violet Flame'' is a system of meditation practice used in the "I AM" Activity and by the Church Universal and Triumphant. It is believed to be invoked from Saint Germain and practicing it is part of these religions' devotion to Saint Germain.
'Sexuality'

★ The violet wand is a sexual stimulation device used by some people into BDSM sex. (The electrical spark produced by the device is colored violet, hence the name).
'Vexillology'

★ The only nation ever to use violet in its flag was the second Spanish republic. [2]

References

1. Measuring Color, J. W. G. Hunt, , , Ellis Horwood Ltd, 1980,
2. Varichon, Anne ''Colors:What They Mean and How to Make Them'' New York:2006 Abrams Page 138
3. Varley, Helen, editor ''Color'' London:1980--Marshall Editions, Ltd. ISBN 0-89535-037-8 Page 222
4. Bonewits, P.E.I. ''Real Magic'' New York:1971 Berkley Medallion Page 141
5. Oslie, Pamalie ''Life Colors: What the Colors in Your Aura Reveal'' Novato, California:2000--New World Library Violet Auras: Pages 130-144

See also

★ Ultraviolet

★ High energy visible light

★ Lavender

★ List of colors

★ Purple