meeting in Special Collections Room, Cabell Library

 

 

Interaction of Color by Josef Albers, Yale University Press

The oversized book was made available from VCU's Special Collection.
The plates viewed assisted in the discussion of the following topics:

Simultaneous contrast:

Albers

Interaction of Color App for I-Pad

Interaction of Color at Google Books

 

 

 

The Retinal Theory of "Lateral Inhibition"

Lateral Inhibition was reviewed for a physiological explanation of this optical illusion, wherein the same color (brown, in the Albers plate) appears to be two different browns. This theory holds that areas of the retina communicate with each other, prior to sending a signal to the brain, in order to optimize contrast perception.

 

Lateral Inhibition at University of Indiana


(The significance of this visual development, along with other aspects of vision, such as night vision, peripheral vision, and brightness adaptation were discussed throughout the course.)

 

 


Hermann grid illusion

This an optical illusion documented by Ludimar Hermann in 1870,
characterized by grey areas at the intersections of a white grid on a black background.
Another effect of the retina transmitting "enhanced" contrast data to the brain.

Optical Illusions at Shutterstock | Ludimar Hermann at Amazon

 

 

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