Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
The influence of the color of an object upon its apparent weight is
relatively slight, but there is evidence of a tendency to judge a red or
black object to be slightly heavier than a yellow or blue object of the
same weight. It appears that hue is a minor factor in influencing the
judgment and that there is no correlation between the affective quality of
a color and its influence upon apparent weight. Although the scanty
evidence available attributes but a slight influence to color in this
respect, it is of interest in passing as a reminder of the many subtle
factors which are at work modifying our judgments.
X
LIGHTING
It should be obvious by this time that the lighting of objects or of a
scene can alone produce an illusion, and that it can in still more cases
contribute toward an illusion. Furthermore, there are many cases of
illusions in lighting due to brightness and color. Many effects of
lighting have been described elsewhere with detailed analyses of the
underlying principles, but a condensed survey applying particularly to
illusions will be presented here.
The comparison of intaglio with low relief has been mentioned several
times in preceding chapters. Examples of these as related to lighting are
found in Figs. 70 to 73. Fig. 70 represents a bas-relief lighted from
above and Fig. 71 would ordinarily be taken to represent a bas-relief
lighted from below. However, the latter was made from a photograph of the
mold (intaglio) from which the bas-relief was made and Fig. 71 really
represents an intaglio lighted from above.
Similarly Fig. 72 represents the bas-relief lighted from the left and Fig.
73 ordinarily would be taken to be a bas-relief lighted from the right.
However, Fig. 73 was made from a photograph of an intaglio lighted from
the left. These amply demonstrate the effect of lighting as an influence
upon the appearance of objects and they indicate the importance of
correct assumptions in arriving at a correct judgment. In these cases the
concealment of the light-source and the commonness of bas-relief as
compared with intaglio are the causes for the illusion or the error in
judgment. Certainly in these cases the visual sense delivers its data
correctly.
[Illustration: Fig. 70.--A bas-relief lighted from above.]
[Illustration: Fig. 71.--An intaglio lighted from above.]
[Illustration: Fig. 72.--A bas-relief lighted from the left.]
[Illustration: Fig. 73.--An intaglio lighted from the left.]
[Illustration: Fig. 74.--_a._ A disk (above) and a sphere (below) lighted
from overhead. _b._ A disk and a sphere lighted by perfectly diffused
light.]
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