Relationship between the two-colour combination feelings evaluation of “kimono” and the visual contexts and observer attributes

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the effects of the presence or absence of visual contexts as “kimono” and observer attributes (knowledge of/interest in/frequency of contact with “kimono” and gender) on the colour combination feelings evaluation by deeming “kimono” as a two-colour combination of nagagi (ankle-length garment) and obi (sash belt). The observers were presented photographs of a two-coloured “kimono” with nagagi and obi coloured with different colours, illustrations of a woman wearing “kimono”, and rectangular shapes painted in proportion to the area ratio of nagagi and obi, and the observers evaluated “contrast”, “floridness”, “warmth”, “pleasantness”, “refinement”, “beauty”, and “lucidity” of the presented stimuli. In addition, the relationship between the evaluation results and estimation values obtained by the colour feelings prediction formulas was examined. As a result of the analysis, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) In the two-colour combination evaluation, observer attributes have a larger effect than visual contexts. (2) When two-colour combination stimuli are given visual contexts as “kimono”, aesthetic evaluation is significantly improved. (3) The evaluation of conspicuity and warmth of two-colour combinations shows slight differences between observer attributes, whereas aesthetic evaluation varies according to their attributes. (4) In simple figures without a context of “kimono”, the effects of the area ratio of colours that constitute a colour combination are limited. (5) The estimation values of “pleasantness” obtained by the colour feelings prediction formulas indicate the highest correlation with evaluation values of “lucidity”.