Disclosed herein is a color display device that can be deployed at retail paint stores, kiosks, customers' offices or homes, airports, malls, etc. for rapid color and appearance prototyping. The color display device, which can be mobile, can display color under standardized lighting or simulated ambient lighting. The color display device can augment or replace a traditional paint chip rack or fan deck. The color display device can manipulate light sources additively and/or subtractively using an integrating light mixing capsule or chamber, special optics, mock objects and electronic control for color and appearance representation and for object illumination with desirable simulated ambient lighting.