Transforming the Rainbow
TRANSFORMING THE RAINBOW
Visual experiments using images from Google Image Search results
Eleanor Maclure
Introduction
The visual experiments presented here are an extension of the processes used to create the images in the book, Searching for the Rainbow. This methodology involved taking the first thirty results from a Google Image search, for each of the eleven basic colour terms in English. In order to discover how the dominant colours were affected, the images were analysed using Colourphon, a Gaussian blur was applied in Photoshop and finally the RGB values of the pixels in each file were averaged to create a solid block of colour. The images contained in this book were created from the results of those processes. For each of the basic colour terms, all of the images have been layered and given transparency to demonstrate the combined effect of the colours in each image. It allows us to see how the colour used as the search term is distributed throughout the images. A combined sample of the averaged images has been taken, creating a cumulative, average colour. It represents a method for interpreting colour terms, that has been mediated by Google and Photoshop. In addition to this, images have been created for each of the colour terms by taking a vertical, one pixel wide section through the layered images. This has been stretched across a wider area to give a greater visual impression of the layering and to portray the colour composition of the image in a different way. Collectively, the experiments represent a conclusion to this line of investigation. While having created some striking and appealing imagery, the method of applying additional digital processes to the images presents a limited opportunity for further insight. However, the use of Google Image search, and other search engines, as research tools has great potential, which could go beyond the scope of colour naming.
Transforming the Rainbow
Pink
PINK
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
PINK
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
PINK
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
PINK
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
PINK
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
PINK
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Red
RED
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
RED
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
RED
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
RED
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
RED
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
RED
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Orange
ORANGE
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
ORANGE
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
ORANGE
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
ORANGE
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
ORANGE
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
ORANGE
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Yellow
YELLOW
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
YELLOW
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
YELLOW
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
YELLOW
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
YELLOW
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
YELLOW
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Green
GREEN
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
GREEN
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
GREEN
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
GREEN
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
GREEN
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
GREEN
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Blue
BLUE
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
BLUE
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
BLUE
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
BLUE
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
BLUE
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
BLUE
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Purple
PURPLE
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
PURPLE
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
PURPLE
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
PURPLE
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
PURPLE
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
PURPLE
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Brown
BROWN
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
BROWN
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
BROWN
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
BROWN
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
BROWN
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
BROWN
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Black
BLACK
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
BLACK
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
BLACK
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
BLACK
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
BLACK
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
BLACK
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
Grey
GREY
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
GREY
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
GREY
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
GREY
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
GREY
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
GREY
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR
White
WHITE
ORIGINAL IMAGES – LAYERED
WHITE
VERTICAL SLICE – STRETCHED
WHITE
COLOURPHON IMAGES – LAYERED
WHITE
BLURRED IMAGES – LAYERED
WHITE
AVERAGED IMAGES – LAYERED
WHITE
AVERAGED IMAGES – CUMULATIVE COLOUR