The interaction between field dependence/independence and pictorial recognition memory was investigated using pictures in three different color modes: realistic color, non-realistic color, and black and white. The study was designed to further confirm the efficacy of applying signal detection analyses to color recognition memory data as a means of more accurately assessing the role of color in visual information processing. Subjects were 60 graduate and undergraduate university students who were identified as field dependent or independent using the Group Embedded Figures Test. The list learning procedure was employed in which all subjects were first briefly shown the 150 stimulus slides sequentially and then shown a random distribution that included an additional 90 distractor slides. Subjects identified slides as old (seen before) or new (never seen). Results suggest that field independent subjects may be generally superior in any type of pictorial recognition task, regardless of color mode. Realistic color materials tend to produce higher absolute recognition rates, but they also seem to produce higher false alarm (positive response to distractor) rates in relation to overall recognition. Thirty-nine references are listed. (LMM)