The exemplary embodiment relates to color selection. It finds particular application in connection with a system and method for classification and selection of color palettes based on an achromatic taxonomy.
A color palette is a set of different colors, which may be displayed as an ordered or unordered sequence of swatches, one for each color in the set. The colors in the palette have typically been selected by a graphic designer, or other skilled artisan working with color, to harmonize with each other, when used in various combinations. The effect of different color palettes on the human perception of the objects to which the colors are applied, such as brochures, textiles, automobiles, and the like, is not fully understood. However, either through common usage or innate preferences, the selection of a color palette can influence a customer's perception of an object. For example a brochure advertising Mediterranean vacations which utilizes a set of muted hues may be less likely to draw the interest of a customer than one which uses the bright colors typically associated with the region. Accordingly, designers often wish to select a color palette which is associated, in human perception, with a certain achromatic entity, such as an emotion, geographical location, musical genre, seasons of the year, or the like. In the case of emotions, palettes which elicit an excited or enthusiastic emotion may be suitable for some applications, such as a flyer for a circus production, while for others, such as a food product, the designer may wish to elicit emotions of pleasantness, such as contented or warm-hearted emotions. The designer uses his or her acquired experience in selecting a suitable color palette for the particular application.
Increasingly, color palettes are used by those who do not have extensive experience in color selection and design. To ascertain the response of a wide variety of people to a particular color palette, the palette may be submitted for review. Users look at the palettes, e.g., displayed on a screen or printed on print media, and assign labels which are natural language expressions of the particular users' perceptions. Large collections of labelled data where millions of users create, annotate, and review color combinations are now accessible.
The present exemplary embodiment takes advantage of such labelled data in a system and method which enables selection and creation of palettes according to achromatic entities, such as emotions.