An RGB Quiz

A LITTLE QUIZ. Guess the color channels in the photo below.



This is a photo of a hot air balloon, taken in a brilliant blue sky. We see here the three color channels of my original color image, along with a black-and-white conversion of the image, using the Photoshop Desaturate tool.

Please see my earlier posting, Color Spaces, Part 1: RGB. Mastering the channel structure of color images will give you more control over your final images, since it replaces guesswork and trial-and-error with certain knowledge.

Remember, in the RGB system we have one channel each for red, green, and blue light. For the red channel, if it is black, that means no red is present, and if white, then the red component of color is brightest, and likewise for the other two colors.

This was a typical blue sky, and so that is your only clue. See if you can answer these questions:

1. What color is the balloon?
2. What color are the stripes on the balloon?
3. Actually, there is another band of a different color, near the top of the balloon. What is its color?
4. Name each color channel.
5. Identify the desaturated image.