If it is true that the differential interpretation of the light source causes the disagreement about the percept, we should be able to recreate the effect de-novo:
And we did: We put a pink croc under green light so it looks grey, then added white socks which — reflecting the green light appeared green. People who know that these socks are white used the green tint as a cue that something is off with the light and mentally color-corrected the image. To them, the croc looked pink, even though the pixels are objectively grey. People who took the color of the socks — green — at face value, saw the croc — consistent with its pixel values – as grey.
But I think it’s because I’m color correcting the Crocs from the green, but the socks, while I acknowledge are likely white in reality, do look very green from reflecting green light
But then, yeah, there’s the difference of “do we take it at face value, or try to figure out what the ‘real’ colour is in neutral light?”
These guys apparently reproduced the effect.
One apparently either sees white socks and pink crocs, or green socks and gray crocs.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-life-of-the-mind/202502/the-dress-10-years-on
https://lemmy.today/pictrs/image/b41aa1cd-3d1b-4ef8-886f-2c6494141805.jpeg
EDIT: For me, it’s green socks and gray crocs.
I see green socks and pink crocs lol
But I think it’s because I’m color correcting the Crocs from the green, but the socks, while I acknowledge are likely white in reality, do look very green from reflecting green light
But then, yeah, there’s the difference of “do we take it at face value, or try to figure out what the ‘real’ colour is in neutral light?”