Beyond Digital: Colour, Painting and Computers

An Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) award enabled Garth Lewis to examine the relationship between analogue and digital colour using new colour software, digital printing and hand painting within the same picture. This project introduces colour and computer research into Lewis’ studio practice to formulate new paintings and extend his pictorial practice.
Colour and computing was a shared project between Garth Lewis and Dr. Ferdy Carabott. They investigated the possibility of using the computer to explore colour ideas for pigment dyeing, printing and hand painting, processes that Lewis uses in his own work or when teaching textile design students. Understanding material colour (paints, dyes) and virtual colour was their key research problem with a view to making a practical contribution to the fine arts and textile research and practice (Lewis 1996, Carabott and Lewis 2001, Carabott, Lewis and Piehl 2002). Extensive research led to an understanding of the difference between analogue and digital colour and importantly a method for reconfiguring the computer colour system (additive), to simulate pigment mixing (subtractive). The result of this effort was a new colour palette: Chromafile, that works in Photoshop and other imaging systems.