Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
Where the artist is concerned with a background which does not include the
sky, that is, where he deals only with _illuminated_ objects on the earth,
his trained eye is valuable provided the colors used meet the demands made
by photographic plates and visual color-filters. In other words, the sky
as a background gives trouble to all who are unfamiliar with scientific
measurements. The brightnesses of sky and clouds are outside the scale of
brightnesses ordinarily encountered in a landscape. Many interesting
instances of the artist's mistakes in dealing with these backgrounds could
be presented; however, the artist's trained eye has been a great aid in
constructing patterns and various other types of camouflage. One of the
most conspicuous aspects of the earth's surface is its texture. From great
heights it appears flat, that is, rolling land is ironed out and the
general contour of the ground is flattened. However, the element of
texture always remains. This is the chief reason for the extensive use of
netting on which dyed raffia, foliage, pieces of colored cloth, etc., are
tied. Such network has concealed many guns, headquarters, ammunition
dumps, communication trenches, roadways, etc. When this has been well done
the concealment is perfect.
One of the greatest annoyances to the camoufleur is the lack of dullness
or "flatness" of the paints, fabrics, and some of the other media used.
When viewed at some angles the glint of highlights due to specular
reflection renders the work very conspicuous. For this reason natural
foliage or such material as dyed raffia has been very successful.
Systems of network and vertical screens have been extensively employed on
roadways near the front, not for the purpose of concealing from the enemy
the fact that the roadways exist, but to make it necessary to shell the
entire roadway continually if it is hoped to prevent its use.
Although the camoufleur is provided with a vast amount of material for his
work, many of his requirements are met by the material at hand.
Obviously, the most convenient method of providing concealment for a
given environment is to use the materials of the environment. Hence,
rubbish from ruined buildings or villages supplies camouflage for guns,
huts, etc., in that environment. In woods the material to simulate the
woods is at hand. Many of these aspects are so obvious to the reader that
space will not be given to their consideration. The color of the soil is
important, for if it is conspicuous the camoufleur must provide screens of
natural turf.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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