Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
An interesting effect, perhaps due wholly or in part to the differences in
the rates of growth and decay of color-sensations, may be observed when a
colored pattern is moved under a low intensity of illumination, the eyes
remaining focused upon a point in space at about the same distance as the
object. A square of red paper pasted in the center of a larger piece of
blue-green paper is a satisfactory object. On moving this object gently,
keeping the point of sight fixed in its plane of movement, the central red
square will appear to shake like jelly and a decided trail of color will
appear to cling to the lagging edge of the central square. Perhaps
chromatic aberration plays some part in making this effect so conspicuous.
A similar case will be noted in a photographic dark-room illuminated by
red light upon observing the self-luminous dial of a watch or clock. When
the latter is moved in the plane of the dial, the greenish luminous
figures appear separated from the red dial and seem to lag behind during
the movement. For such demonstrations it is well to experiment somewhat by
varying the intensity of the illumination and the speed of movement.
Relatively low values of each appear to be best.
Although the various color-sensations grow and decay at different rates,
the latter depend upon conditions. It appears that blue-sensation rises
very rapidly and greatly overshoots its final steady value for a given
stimulus. Red ranks next and green third in this respect. The overshooting
appears to be greater for the greater intensity of the stimulus. The time
required for the sensation to reach a steady value depends both upon the
spectral character and the brightness of the color but is usually less
than a second.
_Chromatic Aberration._--It is well known that the eye focuses different
spectral colors at different points. This is true of any simple lens and
the defect is overcome in the manufacture of optical instruments by
combining two lenses consisting respectively of glasses differing
considerably in refractive index. If a white object is viewed by the eye,
it should appear with a purplish fringe; however, the effect is observed
more readily by viewing a light-source through a purple filter which
transmits only violet and red light. The light-source will have a red or a
violet fringe, depending upon the accommodation or focus of the eye.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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