How do you perceive Gray?

Question

White reflects all light from all wavelengths. Black absorbs all light from all wavelengths. Gray reflects 50% of the light from all wavelengths, and absorbs 50% of the light from all wavelengths.

Reflecting light and absorbing light are two separate actions which both produce thier own result, one being white the other being black. Now gray performs both those actions, but the fact still remains that reflecting light and absorbing light are two separate things.

So my question is: In the case of gray how do you perceive the reflecting of light and the absorption of light as one thing? How do you see this neutral color gray instead of separate white and black and why?

I would really appreciate a thorough answer.

Answer 1

We can only see a narrow band of light frequencies called "visible light".  Just to make it clear, there is nothing magical about white, black, or gray.  Each is a term for a frequency range of electromagnetic waves.

White is seen because it is enough frequencies or intensity to overwhelm a person's capability to detect color.  "Too much information", you might say.  Also, called a "white out".

Black is anything radiating frequencies or intensity outside of a person's sensory range.  Frequencies either too high or too low to be seen.

Gray, describes range of frequencies that can be seen.  Just like blue, green, yellow, or any other color.

If you have every tried to match colors, you have experienced how many frequency variations there can be.

Answer 2

It is really quite simple, Gray is a boring monotone  which is the result of a blending of black and white. Technically, black, white, and Gray, are not colours.