Depth Cues

Introduction

At the end of his biology class Visual Perceptions, Abbott Smith gave a lecture on depth cues. This is a list of the depth cues he gave. Click on any of them to be teleported to a section with more information.

Table of Contents

1. Occular Cues

These cues work just by seeing an object. These cues aren't used in 2D art, but they could be considered when creating sculptures.

1.1. Accomodation (focus distance)

Depending on how far away an object is, your eyes need to focus differently. There is a lens inside your eye controlled by the cilliary muscles. Your brain can match up the tightness of the cilliary muscles to create focus with the distance away of an object. 0!! Convergence: Fixation Point (crossing eyes) When something is within arm's reach, your eyes will begin to cross. Your brain recognizes this is occurring and can read it as an additional cue. This extra cue for things closer is important, as we need additional quality of perception when something is close enough to handle.

1.2. Stereopsis (Binocular Disparity - left/right eye parallax)

2. Motion Cues

2.1. Movement of Viewer

2.2. Motion Parallax (A car way out there looks to move slower)

2.3. Position on Retina

3. Pictoral Cues

3.1. Size

3.1.1. Dimunition

3.1.2. Expected Size

3.1.3. Relative Size

3.1.4. Foreshortening

3.2. Detail

3.2.1. Loss of Detail

3.2.2. Loss of Clarity

3.2.3. Texture Gradients

3.3. Color

3.3.1. Value Compression Towards Light Gray

3.3.2. Desaturation

3.3.3. Hue Shift

3.3.3.1. Objects to Cool

3.3.3.2. Sky Shifts Warm

3.4. Lighting Cues

3.4.1. Lighting on Objects

3.4.1.1. Highlight

3.4.1.2. Halftone

3.4.1.3. Form Shadow

3.4.1.4. Lighting Axis of Adjacent Surfaces

3.4.2. Lighting Effects Between Objects

3.4.2.1. Bounce Light (aka, reflected light)

3.4.2.2. Cast Shadows

3.4.3. Lighting Effects in Space

3.4.3.1. Changes in Lighting Over Distance

3.4.3.2. Light Sources Within the Visual Field

3.5. Edge/Contour Cues

3.5.1. Occlusion/Overlap

3.5.2. Cross Contour

3.5.2.1. Texture

3.5.2.2. Pattern

3.5.2.3. Forms Wrapping Other Forms

3.5.2.4. Form Shadows

3.5.2.5. Cast Shadows

3.5.3. Convergence of Parallel Lines

3.5.3.1. 1+2 Point Perspective

3.5.3.2. 3 Point Perspective

3.5.3.3. 4+5 Point Perspective

3.5.4. Adjacent Edge Cues

3.5.4.1. T-Intersections

3.5.4.2. Y-Intersections

3.5.4.3. Arrow-Intersections

3.5.4.4. X-Intersections

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see also Perspective, Atmospheric?, Perspective, Western Linear?

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