BROWN*

Abstract

ABSTRACTExperimental data are presented to examine the questions: (a) what is brown? and (b) is brown unique? Direct scaling techniques have been used to derive psycho‐sensorial relations among the attributes of color that may be used to define the perception “brown” for stimuli presented in the surface mode of appearance. Brown is shown to be a three‐dimensional color as distinct from a one‐dimensional hue perception. The conditions necessary to elicit a brown response may be specified according to relationships among three dimensions of color, and not less than three. Brown is shown not to have the same property of uniqueness associated with the unitary hues red. green, blue, and yellow. The question relating to the possible uniqueness of brown as a three‐dimensional color is not answered in a definitive sense. It is clear, however, that care should be used to distinguish between hue‐names and color‐names.