Laws of perception

  Rules of Perceptual Organization

                                                               Closure-

when part of a picture or object is incomplete, the eyes will "fill in" the rest of the photo
                                                              
Example: The panda in this photo is not totally complete. Our eyes fill in the rest of the photo, making our brains draw to the conclusion that the object in the image is a panda.

                                                                     Continuity-
When the eye is made to move from one object to another.
                                                                         
Example: Continuity occurs when our eyes are drawn from one point to another. In this example our eyes are drawn to the back of the other room, because of the depth perception.         

                                                                         Similarity-
Occurs when objects look similar to each other, people often will see them in a pattern.
                                                                    
Examples: Since the objects in this image are similar, they are seen in a pattern which ends up making a rectangle shape from the tomatoes being lined up next to each other.     



                                                                         Proximity-
When objects are close together, they are seen as a group
                                                                
Example: Since the wine bottles are all the same shape and are close to each other, your eyes sees them in a group, even though they are actually just stacked on top of each other.


                                                            Figure- ground perception-
The eye differentiates an object from its surrounding area.
                                                             
Example: The cat is differentiated from the dog in this image, because the eye sees it as a silhouette and in a different color than the other animal.

                                                Perception of movement (stroboscopic motion):
When an object is first seen in one location and then quickly in another. Eyes see movement without the picture actual moving.
                                                                    
Example: In this photo I am in the process of raising my dog in the air. When viewing this photo your eyes know that I am moving my dog, even though the image is still and not moving.
                                                                
                                                                           Phi Phenomenon-
An illusion where one sees a series of still images when viewed in rapid discretion as a continuous motion.

Example: In this example I made a flip book. When you flip the pages of the book very quickly, the images seem to be "moving" in a continuous motion.

                                                              Reversible Figures-

Images with two graphical similarities with which people interpret.
                                                            
Example: Some people see two faces and others see a sand timer depending on which way their brain and eyes perceive the photo.

Depth Perception
     -  Monocular cues- Allows us to perceive the depth and distance of an object.

•                                                       relative size

                                                                                   

Allows us to determine how close an object is to regular size.

Example: The pencil is always the same size, but as the camera gets further away, the pencil appears smaller. As the eyes get closer, the pencil appears bigger than actual size.

•                                           relative motion:

How an object is moving compared to another object in motion

•                                                      relative height:

   Distant objects are perceived as being smaller than objects closer.

                                               

Example: The candles are the same size, but when one is placed further away, the eye sees the farther away candle as smaller.                   

•                                                       relative clarity:

Light from distant objects passes through more atmosphere so they are perceived as further away.

                                                      

                                               

Example: The cat in this photo is being focused on as the background is being blurred out. The objects were the same distance away, but since the cat was focused on, it appeared closer.

•                                                       interposition:

When one object overlaps another causing us to see depth.

                                           

Example: The blue circle is overlapping the pink circle. Even though they are both the same size, the blue circle being in front of the pink circle makes it appear larger.  

                                                              texture gradient:

Distortion in size which closer objects have to further away objects. Objects with more texture tend to appear closer.

                                           

Example: The closer colors with raised patterns, appear closer to the eye, because the patterns stand out more to the eye.

• linear perspective: Parallel lines that recede into the distance appear to get closer together.

                                                 

Example: In this painting, the river having both sides be diagonal lines, runs into the back of the photo. This causes the lines to appear as if they are getting closer together, and as if the river is getting smaller.

- binocular cue: Visual information taken in by both eyes that gives us depth perception

• retinal disparity: The way your left and right eye view images differently.

                                            

Example: When I covered my right eye, I could see the left tree better, and when I covered my left eye, I could see the right tree better.       

• convergence: The closer an object, the more inward our eyes need to turn to focus.

Example: The closer I put the pencil towards her face, the more narrowed her eyes became, turning in to focus on the pencil.

Perceptual Constancies: Tendency to perceive an object you are familiar with as having a constant shape or size even with changes that can occur.

                                                             size constancy:

Within a certain range, peoples perceptions of an objects size will not change regardless of change of distance.

                                          

Example: Looking at the tracks drawn, the further away the tracks go our eyes make us believe that the shapes and lines are getting smaller

                                                     brightness constancy:

The tendency of a visual object to have the same amount of brightness when perceived under different illuminations.

                                                

Example: Both the first and second tile are the same color. Since the second tile is next to a darker shade, it appears as if it is darker to the eye, even though the shade hasn't changed.

                                                         shape constancy:

Seeing a rigid object as constant despite being seen at different angles.

                                       

Example: The shape of the door stays the same, even if it is opened. We still see the door as a rectangle.

                                                         Visual Illusions:
What is perceived in a different way than what reality is.
                                            

Example: In this image it focuses on the illusion of depth perception also known as the invisible hand illusion. It looks as if I am holding my cat, when really she is further behind me in the room and I am closest to the camera.