What Color is a Mirror?

VaughanJB

VaughanJB

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Look, I realize that abstract personal conversations don't translate to a wider audience and all, but this came up in a conversation today, and I had a ready answer that, frankly, is suspect.

So, what color is a mirror?
 

Pepper said:
I was going to say silver, not sure why. Something I once heard or read?
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Ha! That was MY original answer. It's silver. Because of course it is!

And does the magic of the glass change the color of the mirror?

Please don't assume I have an answer to this. :D

I liked both your answers thus far. I believe both. ;)
 
Considering that "mirror' is both a noun and a verb, the color you see is what object it reflects, such as that guy Narcissist, in a pond.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
A mirror is the color of whatever it's reflecting. Put an orange cat in front of it, and presto there's a bunch of orange color.
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See, you're describing the color that is reflected, but not the color of the mirror itself. Unless we're to believe a mirror is some kind of chameleon?

Perhaps we can't see the color of a mirror because it is constantly obscured by the reflection it gives?!?!?
 
White? White is the only color that reflects all colors of light, which is what a mirror does. But maybe we are asking the wrong question, although I can't think of what the right question might be.
 
Have you ever thought about how artists represent a mirror? I took an industrial design class in high school, and one assignment was to draw a chrome faucet and make it look shiny. It's an interesting challenge. Essentially, the reflections are a distorted image of the surroundings. It made me more aware of how depictions of surfaces like polished silver or chrome are done.

In the 50's, magazine ads for cars were often artwork rather than photos, and cars then had lots of chrome. It fascinated me how they did that. There is usually some white, some blue, and some ground color, and hard edges and fades. And, the distortions give an illusion of shape.

Here is some really nice chrome artwork I found.

chevy-art.jpg
 
I'm quite sure that it depends on which side of it you're looking at,; the front or the back.

At least I'm pretty sure of it. 🤔😊🤭
 
Naturally said:
A mirror is technically white with a slight green tint due to the way it reflects light. This greenish hue comes from the silica glass used in most mirrors, which reflects green wavelengths more strongly than others.
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Same answer as Google:

A mirror doesn't have a color in the traditional sense, as it reflects the colors of its surroundings and the light it's exposed to. However, most mirrors are technically white with a slight green tinge due to the material they're made from, specifically the glass, which reflects green light more strongly. A perfect mirror would reflect all colors equally, making it appear white
 
Isn’t a mirror just the ultimate chameleon? It changes color depending on what it sees — no identity of its own!
 

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