Color synthesizing

A plural channel color synthesizing instrument comprising

• a light source,
• baffle structure for directing light from said source along a plurality of separate optical paths so that there is a beam of light from said source in each optical path,
• light receiving means asociated with each optical path for receiving light from said source in the beam transmitted along that optical path,
• dispersion means disposed in said optical paths between said light source and said light receiving means for dispersing light in each said beam to form a spectrum of the source,
• a mask holder disposed in each said path between said light source and said light receiving means for receiving a color synthesizing mask, each said mask holder defining a aperture and being arranged to receive a planar black-white type mask structure for insertion into and removal from the mask holder aperture in location coordinated with wavelength and amplitude parameters of the spectrum of the light source in that beam, and
• color synthesizing mask structure for insertion into and removal for each said mask holder, each said mask structure being of the black-white type and having a light blocking portion effective to modify the spectrum when the mask structure is interposed in the corresponding beam of light,
• each said light receiving means including means for recombining the light energy in unblocked portions of said spectrum for simultaneously synthesizing a different color at each said light receiving means.