ROYGBIV
The traditional rainbow comprises seven colours from outside to inside: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. One might recall the acronym ROYGBIV to keep them in order. However, here's an intriguing tidbit: the number seven wasn't merely a product of scientific observation, but rather a deliberate choice by none other than Sir Isaac Newton.
In the 17th century, Newton, in his groundbreaking work on optics, decided to delineate seven distinct colours in the rainbow. His reasoning? Newton believed there was a correlation between the colour spectrum and the notes on a musical scale. With seven natural notes in Western music, Newton found it fitting to assign seven colours to the rainbow. Moreover, seven was considered a magical number in many cultures, adding a touch of mysticism to his scientific endeavour.
Newton is my man, I must say. I have a similar spleen and prefer to use prime numbers when working with values during retouch. Just because, I believe they're magical. But back to the color science.
Some modern scientists argue that indigo shouldn't be included, effectively reducing the rainbow to six colours. To many people indigo is just another blue tone and I agree, indigo never stood out on my personal color palette either.
The Science of the Rainbow
Rainbows are not, in fact, mystical bridges or divine signs (though numerous cultures have interpreted them as such). They are, in essence, an optical phenomenon caused by the interplay of sunlight and water droplets in the atmosphere. When sunlight enters a raindrop, it undergoes refraction, reflects off the back of the drop, and then refracts again as it exits. This process separates white light into its component colours, creating the rainbow we observe.
Fascinating Rainbow Facts
- Rainbows are actually complete circles, though we typically only observe the arc from the ground. From an airplane, one might witness a full circular rainbow!
- There exists a phenomenon known as a moonbow — a rainbow produced by moonlight rather than sunlight. These are rather rare and generally appear white to the human eye. Unfortunately, I have never seen one myself.
- In a double rainbow, the order of colours is reversed in the second arc. It's barely visible in the title image I took in Madeira, but if you look closeley, you can see it.
- The rainbow flag, now a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, originally featured eight colours when designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978, including pink and turquoise. Today, the most widely recognized version of the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag consists of only six colors: Red (at the top), Orange, Yellow,Green, Blue, Violet (at the bottom).
Rainbows in Culture and Design
Throughout history, rainbows have held significant meaning in various cultures. They've symbolised hope, diversity, and new beginnings. In the realm of design, rainbow colours are often employed to convey joy and creativity. From the iconic Apple logo of yesteryear to modern RGB gaming keyboards, rainbow colours continue to make a vibrant statement in the world of design.
You know, writing this article has made me realise something — I've been taking rainbows for granted! Just the other day, I was caught in a sudden downpour while walking home. As the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, I found myself eagerly scanning the sky for that arc of colours. When it appeared, I felt a childlike surge of joy.