Helmholtz-Kohlrausch Effect

The Helmholtz-Kohlrausch Effect is a visual phenomenon where brighter shades of the same color appear more saturated and vivid. Essentially, when a color is made brighter, our eyes perceive it as more intense, even if the actual color remains unchanged. This effect explains why neon signs or bright advertisements seem especially colorful—brightness influences our perception of color saturation. It highlights how our visual system interprets brightness and color together, leading us to perceive some hues as more vivid simply because they are luminous, not necessarily because their actual color purity has increased.