Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
Let us now assume the star to be white, and that the surroundings are of
any color of approximately the same brightness. The star which is really
white will now appear decidedly tinted and of a hue approximately
complementary to that of the surroundings. When the latter are of a green
color the white star will assume a purplish tinge; when red the white star
will appear of a blue-green tint; when yellow the white star will appear
bluish. This is an illusion in any sense of the term.
The strength of this illusion caused by simultaneous contrast is very
remarkable. For example, if a grayish purple star is viewed amid intense
green surroundings it will appear richly purple, but when the surroundings
are changed to a rich purple the grayish purple star will even appear
greenish. The apparent change of a color to its complementary by merely
altering its environment is really a remarkable illusion.
The importance of simultaneous contrast is easily demonstrated upon a
painting by isolating any colored object from its surroundings by means of
a hole in a gray card. For example, an orange flower-pot amid the green
foliage of its surroundings will appear decidedly different in color and
brightness than when viewed through a hole in a white, black, or gray
cardboard. By means of colored papers the same color may be placed in many
different environments and the various contrasts may be viewed
simultaneously. The extent of the illusion is very evident when revealed
in this simple manner. However, too much emphasis cannot be given to Figs.
62 and 66 as a powerful means for realizing the greatest effects.
_After-images._--After looking at bright objects we see after-images of
the same size and form which vary more or less in color. These
after-images are due to persistence or fatigue of the visual process,
depending upon conditions. After looking at the sun for a moment a very
bright after-image is seen. Undoubtedly this at first is due to a
persistence of the visual process, but as it decays it continuously
changes color and finally its presence is due to fatigue.
After-images may be seen after looking intently at any object and then
directing the eyes toward a blank surface such as a wall. A picture-frame
will be seen as a rectangular after-image; a checkered pattern will be
seen as a checkered after-image. When these after-images are projected
upon other objects it is obvious that the appearance of the latter is
apparently altered especially when the observer is not conscious of the
after-image. The effects are seen in paintings and many peculiar phenomena
in the various arts are directly traceable to after-images.
It appears unnecessary to detail the many effects for the explanations or
at least the general principles of after-images are so simple that the
reader should easily render an analysis of any given case.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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