Green 2d 03_figure_ground

Figure-Ground

Figure: what stands out as an object

(subject) in a visual field or frame.

May be thought of as the POSITIVE.

Ground: background or that which

surrounds

an object.May be thought of as the NEGATIVE (negative

space).

Figure and ground can be interchangeable, depending on our focus and interest.

FIGURE

• A shape on a background.

GROUND

• A background on which marks, shapes, or figures are placed.

Figure/ground reversal

When the figure and ground become balanced or “stable,” an illusion is

created.

Figure-groundreversal

Groupings andFigure and Ground Phenomena

Gestalt Principles

Groupings and figure/ground phenomena

Figure and Ground

• The Gestalt principle of figure–ground relationship is exemplified brilliantly in the work of the Dutch artist M. C. Escher (1898–1972), who was a master at creating ambiguous figure–ground relationships.

On Grouping

• The Principles of grouping (or Gestalt laws of grouping) are a set of principles in psychology, first proposed by Gestalt psychologists to account for the observation that humans naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and objects. Gestalt psychologists argued that these principles exist because the mind has an innate disposition to perceive patterns in the stimulus based on certain rules.

On Grouping

• It is a psychological fact that things do not always appear as they actually are, and that perceptual illusions are real phenomena. The basic problem of the psychology of perception, then, is to explain why things appear as they do.

• Continuity |This law holds that points that are connected by straight or curving lines are seen in a way that follows the smoothest path. Rather than seeing separate lines and angles, lines are seen as belonging together.

• Similarity | Suggests that things similar things tend to appear grouped together. Grouping can occur in both visual and auditory stimuli.

• Proximity | According to the law of proximity, things that are near each other seem to be grouped together.

• Closure | Things are grouped together if they seem to complete some entity. Our brains often ignore contradictory information and fill in gaps in information.

Gestalt Principles-breaks down in four main points

• Continuity |This law holds that points that are connected by straight or curving lines are seen in a way that follows the smoothest path. Rather than seeing separate lines and angles, lines are seen as belonging together.

• Similarity | Suggests that things similar things tend to appear grouped together. Grouping can occur in both visual and auditory stimuli.

• Proximity | According to the law of proximity, things that are near each other seem to be grouped together.

• Closure | Things are grouped together if they seem to complete some entity. Our brains often ignore contradictory information and fill in gaps in information.

Gestalt-law of continuity

Gestalt-law of continuity

Gestalt-law of Similarity



Gestalt-law of Proximity



Gestalt-law of Closure



Patterns | Figure and Ground Phenomenon

• Ambiguous Figures | A picture of a subject which the viewer may see as either of two different subjects or as the same subject from either of two different viewpoints depending on his interpretation of the total configuration.


• Alternating Figures | Ambiguous images which serve in the psychology of perception to demonstrate the way the mind habitually tries to achieve a coherent Gestalt. These are often seen as optical illusions.


• Alternating Figure and Ground |Patterns that are achieved when the parameters that distinguish figure from ground are of almost equal prominence which in effect produces a duality of perception for both figure and ground.


• Embedded Figures | Figures that are at first obscure because of very little dissonance between figure and ground.


• Impossible Figures | A type of optical illusion consisting of a two-dimensional figure which is instantly and subconsciously interpreted by the visual system as representing a projection of a three-dimensional object although it is not actually possible for such an object to exist (at least not in the form interpreted by the visual system).

CREATING FOCAL POINT--VIDEO

FOCAL POINT_WHERE AND HOW?





STUDENT_EXAMPLES_P_003







Art & Photos

Green 2d 03_figure_ground