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The Spectrum Degrees scale spans the full visible section of the electromagnetic spectrum & simplifies it to a clean 360° circular system of visible pure spectral hues (single wavelengths of light), much in the same way as Celsius simplified the most human useful parts of the temperature range (0ºC - freezing to 100% - boiling)

Human vision typically covers a 360 nanomenter (nm) range of light wavelengths from 380 nm (ultraviolet) to 740 nm (infrared) also known as the Visible Spectrum

This scale doesn't apply to colours that are combinations of multiple wavelengths such as Pinks, browns, or greys, Tints (hue + white) & Shades (hue + black) but instead gives us a way to measure the pure hue component within those blends that makeup the structural backbone of all colour.

Examples

0°S = 380 nm Black

End of the invisible Ultraviolet spectrum

1°S = 381 nm Deep Violet

Start of the human visible light spectrum

180°S = 560 nm Yellow-Green

The most sensitive peak point of human vision (560 nm) is cleanly & neatly defined as 180°S, the midpoint of visible hue as well as a circle

359°S = 739 nm Deep Tempa 

End of the human visible light spectrum 

360°S = 740 nm Black

Start of the invisible Infrared spectrum

Conversion 

Formulas

Convert Spectrum Degrees (°S) to wavelength (λ):

°S + 380 = λ

Convert Wavelength (λ) to Spectrum Degrees (°S):

λ − 380 = °S

In Spectrum Degrees to refer to a measurement of a hue we say "Degrees Spectrum" with the º symbol before the S - (eg. 45ºS) in the same way that we say "Degrees Celsius" (eg. 25ºC) or how we say an angle is 90º. It keeps consistency that the degree mark (º) is after the number but before the scale of measurement

So to clarify:

The hue measurement system / scale is called "Spectrum Degrees", 

but the actual measurement is in "Degrees Spectrum"

Precision Measurement

Most humans can only differentiate hue increments of 1 to 2ºS. 

Therefore for most practical applications, smaller & more precise Spectrum Degree increments are unnecessary. However if you wish to do so in your practice or have found a niche application for Spectrum Degrees, then..

ºS follows the same notation system as angles or time

Each 1ºS is divided into 60'S 

Prime / Single Quote ( ' ) means minutes

Each 1'S is divided into 60"S 

Double Prime / Double Quote ( " ) means seconds

Tempa (T)

While the cool end of the spectrum has a well-established term "Violet", marking the boundary between black & blue, there was no equivalent term for the infrared-facing end, where red fades into Black. This omission creates an imbalance in how we refer to spectral limits, so the name Tempa was selected by the creator of Spectrum Degrees to name the Terminal hue at the warm end of the visible spectrum

Tempa evokes the visual characteristics of materials such as lava, magma, or molten metal as they cool, the red fading toward black. The letter T was also considered specifically to avoid conflict with other primary or secondary colour initials (e.g. R, G, B, Y, M, C). Alternative terms like Ember were considered, but rejected due to overlap with E, which in Funky's related work on Phen Theory is reserved for the origin point known as "Emergence". Also Lava but L might cause confusion with the peak Lime like hue at 180ºS & Magma with Magentas M etc.. Tempa also alludes to Temperature, appropriate for this end of the spectrum, which borders the infrared range. We even "see red" when our Temper gets out of control. Additionally, it draws subtle inspiration from terms like Tempering (in metallurgy) & Tempera (in pigment fixing), reinforcing the idea of constrained, internalised heat.

**Images provided are only very rough approximations**

**The real intention of this page was not to provide actual samples but rather a description of the Spectrum Degrees concept so that others may apply the concept to their practice

Why 380 to 740 & not 400 - 700?

It wasn't just to conveniently fit the 360º model, but some people are able to see a bit below 400 & a bit above 700 even if only faintly. Thus after lots of research, I felt that Spectrum Degrees parameters most closely align with what we would refer to as the visible spectrum of human vision not the neatly rounded version of 400 - 700 that some people quote just for convenience. 

Below 380 & you are well into UV light & above 740 you are well into IR light

Real World Use Examples

Home automation systems: 

Consistent colour across various mixed device brands & systems

"Hey Siri/Alexa set the lights to two hundred & thirty degrees spectrum"

Home lighting apps GUI for multicolour LED lighting: 

Circular user interface with spectrum degrees labled as they rotate so that the user is able to remember their favourite hues by a specific Spectrum Degree

"Set the pool lights to 75ºS for the party tonight"

Future

Ideas to expand the concept & use of Spectrum degrees. 

If you are able to provide any assistance in helping to achieve the following it would be greatly appreciated