Color photography is indeed based on the tri-color theory. The world saw the first color picture in 1861 made using red, green, and blue filters by James Clark Maxwell. Today’s color photography is based on his method. In 1891, Gabriel Lippmann demonstrated full color images using a single sheet of black & white film, no filters, no colored dye or pigment. This process fell by the wayside because the beautiful images could not be copied or duplicated. In the 1950’s Dr. Edwin Land of the Polaroid Corporation demonstrated that he could make beautiful color pictures using just two colors (579 & 599 nanometers). This too fell by the wayside.

Imaging engineers, long ago wanted to image using the non-visual portion of the spectrum. It was quickly discovered that ordinary photo plates and film imaged only recording violet and blue light as well as ultraviolet (4 nanometers to 380 nanometers). They discovered that films record X-Ray and infrared.

What other portions of the spectrum can be imaged? Astronomers image via radio frequencies Weathermen and the aviation industry, image via radar. The optical microscope is limited to about 1000X, however the electron microscope images molecules and atoms.

We image the human body using sound waves (ultrasound). We image the human body using radio waves (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI).

There are countless other ways to image. At first images made using the non-visual portion of the spectrum were presented only in black & white. After all, we can’t see via this radiation, so any graphic image we present will be an incorrect presentation.

Now doctors looking at X-rays are looking for subtle changes in shades of gray. With computer logic we can change black & white tones into false colors to better differentiate. Thus the modern X-ray and sonogram are displayed with false colors. The other imaging disciplines of science follow suit. False color images made from the non-visual portions of the spectrum are routine.