Pictorial depth probed through relative sizes

doi:10.1068/i0474

Pictorial depth probed through relative sizes

Johan Wagemans

University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Tiensestraat 102-box 3711, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium

johan.wagemans@psy.kuleuven.be

Andrea J van Doorn

Delft University of Technology, Industrial Design, Landbergstraat 15, NL-2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands

a.j.vandoorn@tudelft.nl

Jan J Koenderink

University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Tiensestraat 102-box 3711, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium

j.j.koenderink@tudelft.nl

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Abstract. In the physical environment familiar size is an effective depth cue because the distance from the eye to an object equals the ratio of its physical size to its angular extent in the visual field. Such simple geometrical relations do not apply to pictorial space, since the eye itself is not in pictorial space, and consequently the notion “distance from the eye” is meaningless. Nevertheless, relative size in the picture plane is often used by visual artists to suggest depth differences. The depth domain has no natural origin, nor a natural unit; thus only ratios of depth differences could have an invariant significance. We investigate whether the pictorial relative size cue yields coherent depth structures in pictorial spaces. Specifically, we measure the depth differences for all pairs of points in a 20-point configuration in pictorial space, and we account for these observations through 19 independent parameters (the depths of the points modulo an arbitrary offset), with no meaningful residuals. We discuss a simple formal framework that allows one to handle individual differences. We also compare the depth scale obtained by way of this method with depth scales obtained in totally different ways, finding generally good agreement.

Cite as: Wagemans J, van Doorn A J, Koenderink J J, 2011, "Pictorial depth probed through relative sizes" i-Perception 2(9) 992–1013
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DOI: 10.1068/i0474

ISSN: 2041-6695 (electronic only)

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