Final answer:
We perceive color based on the wavelengths of light that are reflected off objects, with objects looking different colors under different light conditions. The substance's perceived color is determined by its reflective and absorptive properties, and our vision operates on the principle of mixing three primary colors. This explains the counterintuitive nature of color perception, where a substance may consist of colors other than the one we see.
Step-by-step explanation:
Our perception of color comes from the wavelengths of light that are reflected off objects, not absorbed. When we see a substance that appears to be a specific color, it is because that object reflects the part of the spectrum that corresponds to that perceived color. For instance, pigments in a red apple absorb other wavelengths but reflect the red wavelength, making it appear red to us. Thus, what we see is a manifestation of the light that is not absorbed. Under different lighting conditions, colors may appear different due to variations in light reflection and absorption.
In the context of art, such as painting, pigments mix subtractively, meaning combining all the pigments' colors tends to result in black or muddy colors. However, with light, colors mix additively, and the combination of all the colors of light produces white light. This principle is why color perception can be counterintuitive; what we may consider the true color of an object in natural white light might differ under other lighting conditions.
Furthermore, our understanding of color is enhanced by a theory of color vision that involves three primary colors corresponding to three types of cones in our eyes. The brain processes the signals from these cones to reconstruct all the hues we perceive. Even objects under various colors of light maintain their color constancy to some extent, thanks to our eye-brain system that recognizes the true color of objects, regardless of the light source.