Optimal and maximum RGB sensor detecting distances

Hello All.

Can anyone tell me, if I have either an RGB ambient light sensor or an RGB light sensitivity sensor inside a fairly deep project box, whats the maximum / optimal distance they perform at? Can they read colours from several centimetre's away or do they need to be literally right underneath them?

Depending on the answers I'll be having the appropriate sensor in a deep project box of about 6 to 8 cm's deep facing down onto a workbench, effectively blocking out all the outside light interference due to the side walls.

Thanks in advance.

Which sensor?
You can add a lens so the sensor only see a small area.
Sensor, black tube, simple lens.

Project box is what I'm going to use. Just thought someone would have an idea how much max distance these things would detect.

With the right lens it will tell the color of a star. With out a lens the light is reduced greatly by distance.

Floobert said:

these things

Click to expand...

Again what things? There are many different types of "things".

TCS34725 I have used this sensor on several projects. Here is a graph of how the part sees light from different angles.
Also; every time you double the distance you decrease the light to 1/4. (assuming no lens)
I can not guess how much light is coming from the object you want to see. You need to try it and see. Then probably turn up the light.

My first prototype looked like this. The white LEDs light the object. No lens, 1cm, lots of light, black background, works well.

Just found what I used. Very cheep security camera lens fits into the black plastic. Will easy see 10cm.