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This is a bug (or an imperfection) of ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"].

Others have delved into its root, but in my answer I simply will make it clear by a comparison with an experimental, known single wavelength color[1]: sodium’s D-line at 589.0 nm.

Here is Mathematica’s idea of the color of this wavelength, using default settings (no color profile conversion applied, default MMA settings on my MacBook Pro, Mac OS X 10.8.2):

enter image description here

Anyone who has observed the sodium D-line during as a student will know that it doesn't have that greenish hue seen above. Now, here are spectroscopic observations of this same color, for those who have never seen it:

In conclusion: sure, color conversions are tricky… but here, Mathematica is well outside the margin of error :)

[1] Well, almost single color… the two lines are not that far apart.

This is a bug (or an imperfection) of ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"].

Others have delved into its root, but in my answer I simply will make it clear by a comparison with an experimental, known single wavelength color[1]: sodium’s D-line at 589.0 nm.

Here is Mathematica’s idea of the color of this wavelength, using default settings (no color profile conversion applied, default MMA settings on my MacBook Pro, Mac OS X 10.8.2):

enter image description here

Now, here are spectroscopic observations of this same color:

In conclusion: sure, color conversions are tricky… but here, Mathematica is well outside the margin of error :)

[1] Well, almost single color… the two lines are not that far apart.

This is a bug (or an imperfection) of ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"].

Others have delved into its root, but in my answer I simply will make it clear by a comparison with an experimental, known single wavelength color[1]: sodium’s D-line at 589.0 nm.

Here is Mathematica’s idea of the color of this wavelength, using default settings (no color profile conversion applied, default MMA settings on my MacBook Pro, Mac OS X 10.8.2):

enter image description here

Anyone who has observed the sodium D-line during as a student will know that it doesn't have that greenish hue seen above. Now, here are spectroscopic observations of this same color, for those who have never seen it:

In conclusion: sure, color conversions are tricky… but here, Mathematica is well outside the margin of error :)

[1] Well, almost single color… the two lines are not that far apart.

Source Link
F'x
F'x
  • 10.9k
  • 3
  • 52
  • 92

This is a bug (or an imperfection) of ColorData["VisibleSpectrum"].

Others have delved into its root, but in my answer I simply will make it clear by a comparison with an experimental, known single wavelength color[1]: sodium’s D-line at 589.0 nm.

Here is Mathematica’s idea of the color of this wavelength, using default settings (no color profile conversion applied, default MMA settings on my MacBook Pro, Mac OS X 10.8.2):

enter image description here

Now, here are spectroscopic observations of this same color:

In conclusion: sure, color conversions are tricky… but here, Mathematica is well outside the margin of error :)

[1] Well, almost single color… the two lines are not that far apart.