Blackness: preference and perception (value and chroma)

This study investigates preference for, and perception of, blackness using psychophysical experiments. A total of 29 black samples (varying in value and chroma) were evaluated for colour perception (which of two black samples observers considered to be closest to a pure black) and colour preference (which of two black samples obs ervers preferred). For colour perception there was no statistical difference between UK and Chinese observers nor between male and female observers. However, for colour preference there were effects of culture; Chinese observers preferred darker samples and UK observers preferred lighter samples