No, black is not a "fake" color in the sense that it's an absence of visible light, not a color in itself. However, the perception of black and its representation can be complex, depending on the context.
The Physics of Color and Black
According to physics, color is defined by the visible spectrum of light waves. The reference states that "If color is solely the way physics describes it, the visible spectrum of light waves, then black and white are outcasts and don't count as true, physical colors." Black is the absence of reflected light; all wavelengths are absorbed. Therefore, from a purely physics-based definition, black isn't a color. This doesn't mean it's "fake," but rather that it's a different phenomenon than reflected wavelengths of light.
Black in Different Contexts
The term "fake black" appears in several references, but it doesn't refer to the absence of light itself. Instead, it's used in different contexts:
- Display Technology: References discussing "fake black" on AMOLED screens refer to the slight illumination even when displaying black. This is due to limitations in the technology; the pixels aren't completely off, but are dimmed to the lowest possible setting. This is not a characteristic of black itself, but a limitation of technology attempting to render it. The "fake" refers to its not being a perfect absence of light.
- Dyes and Pigments: In the context of dyes, the term "fake black" could refer to a dark dye that isn't truly a deep black (#000000 in hex code) or a mixture of dyes attempting to achieve a black appearance. Again, this isn't inherently about the color black being "fake", but rather an imperfect representation of it.
- Everyday Language: The term might also be used colloquially to describe dark colors that are not true black.
Therefore, while a physical definition of color excludes black, the term "fake black" in common usage refers to imperfect representations or technological limitations, not the absence of light itself.
