Figure-groundWe see these objects as figures against the background.
ClosureHere, gaps are closed to make a complete figure.
SimilarityIn these examples, organisation depends on similarity of colour and/or shape.
ProximityNotice how differently a group of six or nine objects can be perceptually organised, depending on their spacing.
Figure 3.24 a Are the centre dots in both figures the same size? b Context alters the meaning of the middle. (Adapted from Bruner & Minturn, 1955)
Figure 3.24 a Are the centre dots in both figures the same size? b Context alters the meaning of the middle. (Adapted from Bruner & Minturn, 1955)
Figure 3.16 Pictorial cue:Linear perspective
Figure 3.16 Pictorial cue: Relative size
Figure 3.16 Pictorial cue: Interposition
Figure 3.16 Pictorial cue: Texture gradient
Figure 3.16 Pictorial cue: Height in visual field
Figure 3.21 Necker’s cube.
Visual illusion 1: Is the diagonal a straight line? Check it with a ruler.
Visual illusion 2:Is this a drawing of a staircase descending from upper left to lower right, or is it a view from under a staircase from lower right to upper left?
Visual illusion 3:Are these lines parallel? Cover some of the slash marks to see.
Visual illusion 4:Which line is larger: the horizontal or the vertical line?
Visual illusion 5:Notice how the background distorts the square.
Visual illusion 6:Which shape is larger?
Visual illusion 7:Which column is shortest? Which is longest?
Figure 3.29 The Müller-Lyer illusion. Which of the horizontal lines is the longer?
Figure 3.31 The Ames room. From the front, as shown in a and b, the room looks normal; the actual right-hand corner is very short and the left-hand corner is very tall. The diagram in c shows the shape of the room and reveals why people appear to ‘grow’ as they cross towards the nearer, shorter right-hand corner. The floor plan in d shows people’s actual positions in the Ames room in relation to the viewer.
Figure 3.31 The Ames room. From the front, as shown in a and b, the room looks normal; the actual right-hand corner is very short and the left-hand corner is very tall. The diagram in c shows the shape of the room and reveals why people appear to ‘grow’ as they cross towards the nearer, shorter right-hand corner. The floor plan in d shows people’s actual positions in the Ames room in relation to the viewer.