Intended for students in the visual arts and for others with an interest in art, this text presents the science of light -- that is, the science behind what and how we see. The approach emphasizes phenomena rather than mathematical theories and the joy of discovery rather than the drudgery of derivations -- the opposite of "heavy science."

Our World of Light and Color.- The Mystery of Light.- Reflection.- Refraction.- Interference and Diffraction.- Light Sources.- Polarized Light.- Color Vision.- Holography.- Photography.- Computer Images.- Optical Recording, Communication and Photonics.- Symmetry in Art and Nature.- Visual Illusions.