What are the three fundamental elements needed to generate color vision?

To generate color vision, the three fundamental elements required are a light source, an object, and an observer. The light source provides the illumination necessary for color perception; without light, colors cannot be seen. The object reflects specific wavelengths of light, which is how color is perceived. The observer, equipped with functioning eyes and a brain capable of interpreting the incoming light signals, completes the system needed for color vision.

Option B pertains more to the application of paint rather than the perception of color. While a paint formula, substrate, and applicator are relevant for utilizing color in art or design, they do not address the process by which color vision is generated.

Option C mentions lightness, hue, and saturation, which are indeed aspects of color but do not represent the elements required for the act of seeing color itself. These descriptors are characteristics of color rather than the foundational components that make color vision possible.

Option D refers to surface texture and environmental factors, which can influence how color is perceived but do not fundamentally create the ability to see color. The physical interaction of light and color occurs through specific objects and the observer’s role, highlighting why the light source, object, and observer are essential for color vision.