Understanding Perception and Depth Cues

Perception

How your brain organizes and interprets sensory info.

Binocular Cues

Help judge depth close up; need both eyes.

Retinal Disparity

Each eye sees a slightly different image; brain compares the two (like the "finger sausage" trick).

Monocular Cues

Use one eye; applicable for 2D images too.

Relative Size

Smaller object = seems farther.

Texture Gradient

Closer = more detail.

Interposition

Object blocking another = closer.

Linear Perspective

Lines that meet in distance (vanishing point) = depth.

Relative Clarity

Clear = closer, Blurry = farther.

Gestalt Psychology

We see wholes, not just parts.

Figure-Ground

Focused thing = figure, background = ground.

Proximity

Things close together = grouped.

Similarity

Things that look alike = grouped.

Closure

We fill in missing parts of a shape to see a full object.

Perceptual Constancy

We know things stay the same even if they look different on our retina.

Shape Constancy

A door looks different as it opens, but we still see it as a rectangle.

Size Constancy

A person walking away looks smaller on our retina, but we still know they're the same height.

Color Constancy

Even in different lighting, we know the object's color stays the same (e.g., brick wall stays red).

Brightness (Lightness) Constancy

We know how light or dark something is, even if shadows or lighting change it.