You're correct that the color represented by ff0000
in hexadecimal code—red—is generally perceived as having a medium brightness compared to 00ff00
(green) and 0000ff
(blue) under typical viewing conditions. Here's why:
Wavelength and Sensitivities: Red light is at the longer wavelength end of the visible spectrum, which still falls within a range where human eyes are sensitive, albeit not as sensitive as green light.
Cone Cells Response: The red-sensitive cone cells (L-cones) have a response curve distinct from green- and blue-sensitive cones. Their density and sensitivity levels create a perception of moderate brightness for red light.
Brightness Perception: Different colors appear to have different levels of brightness even if the actual intensity is the same. This is due in part to how our brain processes different wavelengths.
Contrast: Red contrasts strongly with many other colors, which can give it a sense of prominence and "medium" brightness compared to cooler greens and blues.
Adaptation to Light Conditions: The brightness of red can seem balanced because we see a good deal of red-spectrum light from various light sources during daytime, evening, and many artificial lights.
Hue Influence: The psychological influence of color on perception cannot be discounted. While red itself could be processed by humans as a color carrying importance or urgency, this doesn’t diminishing its perceived brightness but rather influences its emotional response.
Environment Exposure: Our environment presents us with various shades often, and red is common enough - whether in natural or manufactured settings - to not stand out as unusually bright or dim.
Thus, considering these factors, red (ff0000
) often appears with an intermediate brightness between green (00ff00
) and blue (0000ff
), creating a visual balance. However, keep in mind that perceived brightness can greatly vary among individuals and their specific conditions and backgrounds.