White, a fundamental presence in human culture, has shaped artistic expression and spiritual symbolism throughout history. Its significance spans diverse civilizations, where it consistently represents purity, new beginnings, and divine presence. Modern interpretations associate white with cleanliness, minimalism, and sophistication in design and architecture. Religious ceremonies worldwide incorporate white to symbolize transcendence and spiritual enlightenment, while contemporary design practices embrace its ability to create visual space and clarity. The psychological impact of white generates feelings of openness, clarity, and fresh possibilities.
White's technical specifications vary across different color models and applications, making it a versatile choice for designers and artists. Pure white in the RGB color space is defined by maximum values of red, green, and blue (255, 255, 255), while its hexadecimal representation is #FFFFFF. In print design, white paper typically serves as the base, requiring no ink in the CMYK model (0%, 0%, 0%, 0%). Professional designers often work with various white temperatures, from cool bluish whites (6500K) to warm yellowish whites (2700K). Digital displays must carefully calibrate white point settings to ensure accurate color representation across devices. The perception of white can shift dramatically under different lighting conditions, making it essential to consider environmental factors in both digital and physical applications.
Other related colors to white: