Hue Contrast Effect
Posted on 06/29/2012
A hue contrast effect occurs when a color is perceived differently due to hue contrast with a background color. The color often appears closer to the complementary color of the background color (see illustration below).
For example, a shade tab viewed against an orange background will often appear to have more blue, and when viewed against a yellow background will often appear to have more purple. If a tooth shade tab is placed in front of a natural tooth that has an orange hue, the dental professional will often perceive a shade tab to have more blue than it actually has, and therefore choose a different shade even when the original choice was correct.
To counter act such perceived difference, it is advisable for the dentist or dental lab tech to pre-condition his or her eye by viewing the complementary color before choosing a shade. Because most natural tooth shades fall within an orange hue, viewing the complementary light blue color will often allow the eye to perceive the actual shade more accurately and thereby choose the correct shade tab.
Portions of this post were adapted from the book:
Fundaments of Color - Shade Matching and Communication in Esthetic Dentistry published by Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc
For example, a shade tab viewed against an orange background will often appear to have more blue, and when viewed against a yellow background will often appear to have more purple. If a tooth shade tab is placed in front of a natural tooth that has an orange hue, the dental professional will often perceive a shade tab to have more blue than it actually has, and therefore choose a different shade even when the original choice was correct.
To counter act such perceived difference, it is advisable for the dentist or dental lab tech to pre-condition his or her eye by viewing the complementary color before choosing a shade. Because most natural tooth shades fall within an orange hue, viewing the complementary light blue color will often allow the eye to perceive the actual shade more accurately and thereby choose the correct shade tab.
Portions of this post were adapted from the book:
Fundaments of Color - Shade Matching and Communication in Esthetic Dentistry published by Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc
