White

White is an achromatic color, of maximum lightness and zero darkness. Perceptually it is the consequence of the photoreception of an intense light constituted by all the wavelengths of the visible spectrum, by three wavelengths (long, medium and short) or by two complementary wavelengths. It resembles the color of snow, although other highly reflective substances, such as magnesia, gypsum color, and barite (barium sulfate), are more specific examples of white. The name "white" includes similar colorations to standard white, called off-white or whitish, which have a slight hint of saturation and hue.

Etymology

White horse between snow

The word "white" comes from the Vulgar Latin blancus, 'white'; which is derived from the Germanic *blank, 'bright'; and this from the Proto-Germanic *blangkaz, 'to shine, dazzle'. The extended form of the Proto-Indo-European root *bhel–, ‘to shine, flash, burn’.

In Spanish, the term "white" began to be used around the year 1140.

Lexemes and synonymy

The stem leuco, from the Greek λευκός (leucos), 'white' (and this from the Indo-European root *lewk–, ' light, brightness'), associates the terms that include it with the color white. An example of this is the word leukocyte.

A poetic synonym for white is albo, from the Latin albus, 'white'. The lexemes alba and albo have the same origin, which are found, for example, in the words albino and alborada. Another synonym is candid, from the Latin candĭdus, 'white, pure', 'sincere, honest'.

Properties

In subtractive chromosynthesis

In the subtractive color synthesis system, where colors are created by mixing pigments or dyes (paints, dyes, inks), the most common primary color triad is cyan, magenta, and yellow. In this system, white cannot be obtained by mixing; to represent it, white pigment is used or the support on which one works (paper, cloth, etc.) is left uncolored if it is white.

In additive chromosynthesis

In the additive system of color synthesis, in which colors are made by mixing colored light instead of pigments, the primary colors are red, green, and blue. This means that when working with colored light, it is enough to mix those three colors in different proportions to get all the others. To create white, the three primary colors are mixed to their maximum intensity.

This additive system of light colors is what monitors and televisions use to produce colors. In this system, a color is described with numerical values for each of its components (red, green and blue), indicating red with "R", green with "G" and blue with "B". On a value scale from 0 to 255, pure additive white is expressed as R=255 (red at maximum value), G=255 (green at maximum value), and B=255 (blue at maximum value). See RGB.

White pigments

The barium sulfate is used as a reference pattern of practically absolute white, and also as a white pigment in the composition of paints.

Since ancient times, efforts have been made to produce colored substances for painting or dyeing that have good color, staining power, and permanence; that they were stable to light, that they dried reasonably quickly, that they had the necessary density and that they could be mixed without problems with other colors. Some white pigments that have stood out in the history of painting are described below.

White lead or lead white

In ancient times, the white color was prepared by a process—described by Teofrasto (371-287 BC), Vitruvio (70-10 BC) and Dioscorides (40-90 AD)—which consisted of suspending lead plates on vinegar steam, then dipping them into dung for a couple of months and then scraping the layer of white material that had been formed; This procedure for obtaining a good white pigment was used for several millennia. The pigment in question was albayalde or lead white, a toxic substance.

Annularia white

The anular white was a mixture of chalk with ground glass that was obtained from the rings that the poor used at their weddings on the ring finger.

Zinc white

In 1785, the Frenchman Guyton of Morveau discovered the white of zinc, which is not toxic. It is a cold white, somewhat bluish, less covering than the fact on the basis of lead, which was several times more expensive than this until it was industrialized a few years after its invention. It was very useful to paint pictures for its creamy consistency. In 1834, a cinc oxide was developed, which was called “white China”, which was thicker.

Titanium White

Between 1916 and 1918, Norwegian and American chemicals developed the titanium target, which turned out to be more durable and stable. It also reflects almost all the incident light, is not quartered and not toxic.

Others

• The Egyptians made a white pigment with hydrated magnesium silicate, which was brilliant because it contained powdered pearl shells, which was why it was expensive.
• According to Pliny the Old (23-79 AD), the Greeks produced a white pigment called melinum extracting a dust from the veins of the Milo and Samos mountains. It was very unctuous to paint, though good to heal wounds.
• In Japan, a white pigment from the mother-of-pearl was manufactured—and still manufactured.

Symbolism and uses

Paloma de la paz painted on tiles in Calle de la Paz, Madrid

• In the West, white symbolizes purity and innocence, while in some countries of the East, such as China and India, it is associated with mourning.
• The white color also symbolizes peace. In a conflict, a handkerchief or a white flag indicates surrender or truce order.
• The dove of peace, which also symbolizes reconciliation, is represented in white and sustaining an olive branch. It comes from the Biblical account of Noah's ark, where he, to know whether it was already safe to leave the ark behind the Flood, freed a dove that returned bringing in its peak a green stream of olive trees, a sign that the waters had come down and that the earth had reverberated. This symbol is at least for Renaissance purposes. His popularity was reinforced when, in 1949, the World Peace Council was held in Paris, which was promoted by a poster by Pablo Picasso representing the white dove with the olive branch.
• In art, the white unicorn symbolizes the chastity of a lady. This association comes from the description made of the unicorn the medieval beasts, where it was explained that the method of hunting it was to attract it through a virgin maiden, before which the animal became meek and numb. Regarding the color of the unicorn, already in the fourth century B.C. the doctor and historian Ctesias wrote that it was white for the most part, which may have facilitated the one that was later attributed to him preferably that color.
• Another symbol of purity that can be found in works of art is the white sugar, often associated with the Virgin Mary.
• In Christianity, the Holy Spirit is represented as a white dove.
• In the Catholic Church it is the color that the Pope saw, and also the children who will receive their first communion wear it.
• The traditional white bride dress with veil was allegedly imposed by Queen Victoria in 1840.
• The white is used where there should be good cleaning conditions: kitchens, bathrooms, hospitals. They also use white robes or bodyguards who work in environments that require asepsia, such as doctors, biochemicals, veterinarians and nurses.
• Bed linen, underwear and tablecloths have traditionally been white or raw. That way it was easy to see the dirt impregnated in them and also wash them many times with boiling water or bleach without the color deteriorating. Hence the expression "white coat" designates all fabrics or garments that perform these functions, even if their color is not white.
• In a container, the white color suggests that the product it contains is pure, soft and fresh.
• Minimalist interior design frequently uses white colour.
• In fact, a "white elephant" is a costly thing to keep and has no utility. This expression comes from the custom that exists among the monarchs of Southeast Asia to have in their courts these rare animals, to which great honors are given.
• In the cultures of extreme east, the white is the color of the west, the autumn and the metal element, represented by the white tiger, which is both a constellation and a mythical animal.
• Similarly, for the ancient Nahua villages (mexica or Aztec), the white was the color of the west, related to Quetzalcóatl.
• It also relates the white color to Gods as the Huiracocha God Quetzalcoátl and Kukulkán.

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  The lady and the unicornOil of Luca Longhi, 16th Century

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  Modern white lavamanos

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  West white tiger representation on a Chinese alero tiger

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  Female cosmetic product in an immaculate container

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  Biochemical with dust guard and white gloves

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  White elephant belonging to the king of Burma (cold 1855)

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  Traditional White Bridal Dress

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  Dental Enamel White

Heraldry and Vexillology

White is not a heraldic color. When it appears on a coat of arms, it generally represents the metal silver. However, it may specifically appear as white if the description of the weapons requires the representation of some "natural" white figure (for example, a white dove).

In vexillology, the color white derives from heraldic silver. In flags it is frequently used; the white surface in some of them is considerable, and others even use white as a background color.

In the examples below these lines: «White Eagle» (Orzeł Biały) is the national coat of arms of Poland; the white background of the flags of Cyprus and South Korea means peace; the yellow and white of the flag of Vatican City come from the heraldic metals gold and silver.

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  Polish shield

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  Flag of Cyprus

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  South Korea Flag

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  Flag of the State of the Vatican City

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  Flag of Japan

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  Flag of Artigas

Political target

See political colors: political white.

Liturgical white

See liturgical colors.

The white of light

Light can also take on different shades of white depending on the time of day. For example, the light of the sunset is rather reddish. This is called color temperature. In artificial lighting, the aim is to create different types of whites to be able to resemble that changing natural light. The most common color temperatures are:

• Cold white (6000 to 6500 K): has a bluish tone, and looks like fluorescent light.
• Natural white (4000 to 4500 K): has a totally white tone.
• Warm white (3000 to 3500 K): similar to yellowish white at the end of the day, and incandescent light.

Varieties of white

White or very light web colors