How do I simulate Color Vision Deficiency (colorblindness)

**klh** · 05-06-2010, 04:21 PM

We recently discovered my son has deuteranopia, meaning that he can't see much of the green wavelengths of light. He clearly distinguishes reds and blues, but confuses colors from orange to green as well as having a hard time with purple to blue.

I am interested in learning better how he sees the world by taking pictures and post-processing them to simulate his vision. I have tried desaturating the green curve, but that doesn't look like the simulations I see on many websites.

Can anyone describe the best post-processing techniques (I use Paint Shop Pro) that I could use to simulate deuteranopia?

Thanks,

Kevin

stevebrot · 05-06-2010, 04:55 PM

This is probably a bit of a reach, but I will take a stab at it. First thing to remember...

Regardless of how you manipulate an image, you have no way of knowing whether that is what your son actually sees.

Perception is highly individual. The best you will be able to do is to produce an image that mimics his ability to discriminate between various shades. I know several people with various degrees of "color blindness" and all tell me that they see color just fine, but they have trouble telling the difference between certain shades that other people find distinct.

I would start with digital photos of the standardized color deficiency test deck and concentrate on the cards that are used to screen for deuteranopia. [Edit: Strike the following section...I misread deuteranomaly for deuteranopia] Using your image editing software, you will want to adjust the luminance (not saturation) of the green channel down until the test image looks like the color deficient pattern. On my version of PSP, that would be the Colors/Adjust/Levels dialog. Your version may be different. You may have to boost the luminance for the red channel slightly as well since you son's condition involves a sensitivity shift of the green photo-receptors towards the red.End Edit

Edit: Add this section
I don't know how this might be done...
End edit

Once you know the appropriate settings, you can apply those to other images.

Steve

krypticide · 05-06-2010, 05:03 PM

Nothing concrete, but this site is great for showing you what a colorblind person sees. I myself am red-green colorblind, and I can vouch that the "colorblind"-ed images on here match the real images, for me. Hence, it is an accurate representation of what a colorblind person sees.

Vischeck

stevebrot · 05-06-2010, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by krypticide

Nothing concrete, but this site is great for showing you what a colorblind person sees. I myself am red-green colorblind, and I can vouch that the "colorblind"-ed images on here match the real images, for me. Hence, it is an accurate representation of what a colorblind person sees.

Is there a link missing or does "This site", meaning Pentax Forums?

Steve

krypticide · 05-07-2010, 03:01 PM

Oops, my bad...

Vischeck: About Daltonize

**klh** · 05-07-2010, 06:50 PM

Steve,

I'm using PSP X3, and the commands are a little different. I'm not finding the options to do what you describe. I keep ending up with a magenta photo (because I'm losing the green channel.)

Interestingly, I found a view filter for GIMP that perfectly simulates CVD. I'm surprised there isn't something like that for PSP (or if there is, I haven't found it).

Kevin

**klh** · 05-07-2010, 06:50 PM

Krypticide,

Thanks, that's an interesting website.

slinco · 05-08-2010, 01:37 PM

It won't help you much with Paint Shop Pro, but just so you know, Photoshop CS4 and the new CS5 have this ability built-in. In the View menu go to Proof Setup > Colorblindness.

stevebrot · 05-08-2010, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by klh

Steve,

I'm using PSP X3, and the commands are a little different. I'm not finding the options to do what you describe. I keep ending up with a magenta photo (because I'm losing the green channel.)

Interestingly, I found a view filter for GIMP that perfectly simulates CVD. I'm surprised there isn't something like that for PSP (or if there is, I haven't found it).

Kevin

It would not make much difference Kevin. My edits may not have been very clear, but you really can't make any adjustments that will approximate dichromacy (only having two out of the three types of color receptor cells).

Steve

**klh** · 05-08-2010, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

It would not make much difference Kevin. My edits may not have been very clear, but you really can't make any adjustments that will approximate dichromacy (only having two out of the three types of color receptor cells).

Steve

Thanks Steve.

I did find that Vischeck can work as a plugin for PSPX3. I overlooked it earlier because the plugin was written years ago, so I assumed it wouldn't work in X3.

Who knows how accurate it really is, but it gives me an idea on what he's seeing.

slinco · 05-09-2010, 05:57 AM

Here's another web site you may find useful:
15 Tools If You Are (Not) Colorblind

woof · 05-09-2010, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by klh

We recently discovered my son has deuteranopia

Try this site: Color Vision tool

Under Red-Green, deficiency section Deuteranopia is the fourth option.

Seaain

krypticide · 05-11-2010, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by klh

Who knows how accurate it really is, but it gives me an idea on what he's seeing.

Well, as a colorblind guy, I can say that the simulated colorblind images on the Vischeck website is pretty much an exact match with what I see for the original image.

05-06-2010, 04:21 PM	#1
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	How do I simulate Color Vision Deficiency (colorblindness) We recently discovered my son has deuteranopia, meaning that he can't see much of the green wavelengths of light. He clearly distinguishes reds and blues, but confuses colors from orange to green as well as having a hard time with purple to blue. I am interested in learning better how he sees the world by taking pictures and post-processing them to simulate his vision. I have tried desaturating the green curve, but that doesn't look like the simulations I see on many websites. Can anyone describe the best post-processing techniques (I use Paint Shop Pro) that I could use to simulate deuteranopia? Thanks, Kevin

05-06-2010, 04:55 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	This is probably a bit of a reach, but I will take a stab at it. First thing to remember... Regardless of how you manipulate an image, you have no way of knowing whether that is what your son actually sees. Perception is highly individual. The best you will be able to do is to produce an image that mimics his ability to discriminate between various shades. I know several people with various degrees of "color blindness" and all tell me that they see color just fine, but they have trouble telling the difference between certain shades that other people find distinct. I would start with digital photos of the standardized color deficiency test deck and concentrate on the cards that are used to screen for deuteranopia. [Edit: Strike the following section...I misread deuteranomaly for deuteranopia] Using your image editing software, you will want to adjust the luminance (not saturation) of the green channel down until the test image looks like the color deficient pattern. On my version of PSP, that would be the Colors/Adjust/Levels dialog. Your version may be different. You may have to boost the luminance for the red channel slightly as well since you son's condition involves a sensitivity shift of the green photo-receptors towards the red.End Edit Edit: Add this section I don't know how this might be done... End edit Once you know the appropriate settings, you can apply those to other images. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 05-06-2010 at 05:55 PM.

05-06-2010, 05:03 PM	#3
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Nothing concrete, but this site is great for showing you what a colorblind person sees. I myself am red-green colorblind, and I can vouch that the "colorblind"-ed images on here match the real images, for me. Hence, it is an accurate representation of what a colorblind person sees. Vischeck Last edited by krypticide; 05-07-2010 at 03:01 PM.

05-07-2010, 06:50 PM	#6
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827 Original Poster	Steve, I'm using PSP X3, and the commands are a little different. I'm not finding the options to do what you describe. I keep ending up with a magenta photo (because I'm losing the green channel.) Interestingly, I found a view filter for GIMP that perfectly simulates CVD. I'm surprised there isn't something like that for PSP (or if there is, I haven't found it). Kevin Last edited by klh; 05-08-2010 at 01:41 PM.

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05-06-2010, 05:37 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by krypticide Nothing concrete, but this site is great for showing you what a colorblind person sees. I myself am red-green colorblind, and I can vouch that the "colorblind"-ed images on here match the real images, for me. Hence, it is an accurate representation of what a colorblind person sees. Is there a link missing or does "This site", meaning Pentax Forums? Steve

05-07-2010, 03:01 PM	#5
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Oops, my bad... Vischeck: About Daltonize

05-08-2010, 01:37 PM	#8
slinco Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 203	It won't help you much with Paint Shop Pro, but just so you know, Photoshop CS4 and the new CS5 have this ability built-in. In the View menu go to Proof Setup > Colorblindness.

05-08-2010, 03:19 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by klh Steve, I'm using PSP X3, and the commands are a little different. I'm not finding the options to do what you describe. I keep ending up with a magenta photo (because I'm losing the green channel.) Interestingly, I found a view filter for GIMP that perfectly simulates CVD. I'm surprised there isn't something like that for PSP (or if there is, I haven't found it). Kevin It would not make much difference Kevin. My edits may not have been very clear, but you really can't make any adjustments that will approximate dichromacy (only having two out of the three types of color receptor cells). Steve

05-08-2010, 04:01 PM	#10
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot It would not make much difference Kevin. My edits may not have been very clear, but you really can't make any adjustments that will approximate dichromacy (only having two out of the three types of color receptor cells). Steve Thanks Steve. I did find that Vischeck can work as a plugin for PSPX3. I overlooked it earlier because the plugin was written years ago, so I assumed it wouldn't work in X3. Who knows how accurate it really is, but it gives me an idea on what he's seeing.

05-09-2010, 05:57 AM	#11
slinco Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 203	Here's another web site you may find useful: 15 Tools If You Are (Not) Colorblind

05-09-2010, 10:21 AM	#12
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	Originally posted by klh We recently discovered my son has deuteranopia Try this site: Color Vision tool Under Red-Green, deficiency section Deuteranopia is the fourth option. Seaain

05-11-2010, 11:32 PM	#13
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Originally posted by klh Who knows how accurate it really is, but it gives me an idea on what he's seeing. Well, as a colorblind guy, I can say that the simulated colorblind images on the Vischeck website is pretty much an exact match with what I see for the original image.