Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
Let us assume that vision is fixed upon a green square upon a gray or
white background. Despite the utmost effort on the part of the observer to
gaze fixedly upon this green square, the latter will begin to appear
fringed with a pinkish border. This is due to the after-image of the green
square and it is displaced slightly due to involuntary eye-movements.
After gazing as steadily as possible for a half minute, or even less, if
the point of sight is turned to the white paper a pink square is seen upon
it. Furthermore, this pink square moves over the field with the point of
sight. This is the type most generally noticed.
After-images have been classified as positive and negative. The former are
those in which the distribution of light and shade is the same as in the
original object. Those in which this distribution is reversed, as in the
photographic negative, are termed "negative." After-images undergo a
variety of changes in color but in general there are two important states.
In one the color is the same as in the original object and in the other it
is approximately complementary to the original color. In general the
negative after-image is approximately complementary in color to the color
of the original object.
After-images are best observed when the eyes are well rested, as in the
morning upon awakening. With a little practice in giving attention to
them, they can be seen floating in the air, in the indefinite field of the
closed eyes, upon a wall, or elsewhere, and the changes in the brightness
and color can be readily followed. Negative after-images are sometimes
very persistent and therefore are more commonly noticed than positive
ones. The positive after-image is due to retinal inertia, that is, to the
persistency of the visual process after the actual stimulus has been
removed. It is of relatively brief duration. If an after-image of a window
is projected on a white area it is likely to appear as a "negative" when
projected upon a white background, and as a "positive" upon a dark
background, such as is readily provided by closing the eyes. It may be of
interest for the reader to obtain an after-image of a bright surface of a
light-source and study its color changes with the eye closed. Upon
repeating the experiment the progression of colors will be found to be
always the same for the same conditions. The duration of the after-image
will be found to vary with the brightness and period of fixation of the
object.
It is interesting to note that an after-image is seen with difficulty when
the eyes are in motion, but it becomes quite conspicuous when the eyes are
brought to rest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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