Most computer scientists and programmers who encounter color perception do so in the course of computer graphics applications, and their experience with it is limited to programming for the color spaces of ordinary monitors. Some will deal with more advanced colorimetry for applications that require higher-fidelity color monitors and color printing. The texts they are likely to have encountered are oriented toward applications, human-computer interfaces, and standards. Koenderink’s book takes a very different approach--it is an introductory textbook that attempts to explain the concepts and formal foundations of colorimetry.

The intended audience consists of professionals, academics, and students interested in studying the topic from a perspective different from most of the standard texts. The book should work well as the main text of an advanced college course, following the standard engineering-focused approaches to colorimetry or courses in computer graphics or computer vision. A basic knowledge of linear algebra and prior exposure to physics notation would be helpful.

The book begins with a introduction to color and colorimetry, including a survey of historical approaches and a discussion of the fundamental properties of color perception that constrain a formal treatment of color spaces. This is followed by a section addressing achromatic beams, edge colors, and optimal colors. Metric color spaces are discussed next, and discussions of object colors, color atlases, and spectra follow. Discussions of color gamuts and the RGB cube and other color systems, and their relation to images, follow. A final section addresses optics and color in the natural environment, and their perception by humans. Chapter exercises are provided, several of which are open-ended and provoke thought. Chapter end notes clarify the more complex points and provide additional information or references, though a comprehensive bibliography is not included. Additional materials such as mathematical formalisms or praxes are provided in the chapter appendices.

The style of exposition is that of an introductory text, making for a highly readable book without much dense mathematical notation. The production qualities are excellent, and abundant diagrams and color illustrations are provided. The result is an informative, attractive, and enjoyable book.