Gestalt Principles of Perception Worksheets
These theories attempt to describe how people tend to organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes
when certain principles are applied.
 Similarity occurs when objects look similar to one another. People often perceive them as a group or
pattern.
 Continuation (continuity) occurs when the eye is compelled to move through one object and continue
to another object.
 Closure occurs when an object is incomplete or a space is not completely enclosed. If enough of the
shape is indicated, people perceive the whole by filling in the missing information.
 Proximity occurs when elements are placed close together. They tend to be perceived as a group.
 Figure and Ground-The eye differentiates an object form its surrounding area. a form, silhouette, or
shape is naturally perceived as figure (object), while the surrounding area is perceived as ground
(background). Balancing figure and ground can make the perceived image clearer. Using unusual
figure/ground relationships can add interest and subtlety to an image.
Identify which gestalt principle is being used and explain why.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
PART TWO:
Perception Worksheet for Monocular Cues
Relative Size: If two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts a smaller retinal image to be farther away.
Interposition: Objects that occlude (block) other objects tend to be perceived as closer.
Relative Clarity: Because light from distant objects passes through more light than closer objects, we perceive hazy
objects to be farther away than those objects that appear sharp and clear.
Texture Gradient: Closer objects tend to have a courser texture than to far way objects
Linear Perspective: Parallel lines, such as railroad tracks, appear to converge in the distance. The more the lines
converge, the greater their perceived distance.
Light and Shadow: Nearby objects reflect more light into our eyes than more distant objects. Given two identical
objects, the ones that are shaded on top are seen as “sticking out toward us”
1. Identify how each of the following monocular cues are used in the painting
a)
b)
c)
d)
Relative Size
Interposition
Relative clarity
Texture Gradient
2. Identify how each of the
following monocular cues are used
in the painting
a)
b)
c)
d)
Relative Size
Interposition
Relative clarity
Texture Gradient
3. Identify how each of the following monocular cues are used in the picture
a)
b)
c)
d)
Relative Size
Interposition
Relative clarity
Texture Gradient
When a three-dimensional world is portrayed on a two-dimensional surface, you can gain a
fairly realistic sense of that world. However, it is also possible to create a two-dimensional
rendition of a world that cannot exist.
4. Explain the "problems" in the pictures. In other words, why are these impossible worlds?
5. Identify how each of the following monocular cues are used in the paintings/drawings
(consider all 4 as one group)
a) Relative Size
b) Interposition
c) Relative clarity
d) Texture Gradient
Depth from Shading-Attached and cast shadows are important pictorial cues to depth. Note
how, in the absence of other cues to depth, shadows can lead to a sense of depth.
6. What does shading on the bottom of the circle do to the appearance of the circle?
7. What is the shading difference between circles that appear to pop out versus circles that
appear sunken in?
Binocular Cues to Depth and SIRDS
Depth can be perceived with only monocular cues. Nonetheless, it is also true that binocular
cues give rise to depth. Stereopsis, in fact, is a powerful cue to depth. The slightly different
images formed on the two retinas give rise to a sense of depth for relatively nearby objects. (At
greater distances, binocular cues are not particularly effective.)
Magic Eye demonstrations of apparent depth.
Hold the center of the printed image right up to your nose. It should be blurry. Focus as though
you are looking through the image into the distance. Very slowly move the image away from
your face until the two squares above the image turn into three squares. If you see four squares,
move the image farther away from your face until you see three squares. If you see one or two
squares, start over!
When you clearly see three squares, hold the page still, and the hidden image will magically
appear. Once you perceive the hidden image and depth, you can look around the entire 3D
image. The longer you look, the clearer the illusion becomes. The farther away you hold the
page, the deeper it becomes. Good Luck!
Tips for Viewing 3-D Stereograms
 Pick a spot on the picture (the middle seems to work best) and just stare at it.
 Allow your eyes to relax, don't just stare AT the image, try to stare THROUGH it. You'll
notice your eyes will go slightly out of focus. This is normal.
 Keep staring, don't give up, once you begin to see the first image, it gets much easier.
This is what you’re supposed to see
Can you see how many mushrooms are in this picture?
Besides the cup and saucer, what else is in this picture?
8. OK, so now can you figure out how they work? Write a hypothesis.
Depth/Size Illusions
A classic illusion of depth/size is the Ponzo illusion, illustrated below:
In this illusion the upper horizontal line should appear to be longer than the lower horizontal
line.
9. Explain why the top line appears longer than the bottom line (what effect might linear
perspective have on what you see)?
Probably the most studied of these illusions is the Müller-Lyer illusion. Both line segments are
the same length.
10. How would you explain the illusion?
11. Do you think that apparent depth plays a role? If so, how would you explain the barbell
variant of this illusion (seen below)?
Banana Card Illusion
12. How would you explain the illusion?
Part 3:
Figure/Ground Separation. As you may recall, the Gestalt psychologists were also interested in the
distinction between figure and ground. And the classic Face/Vase illusion (Rubin, 1915) is an example that
supports the adage associated with the Gestalt psychologists, "The whole is different from the sum of its
parts."
13. How would you interpret the two possible perceptions of this stimulus, using the Gestalt principles?
A form, silhouette, or shape is naturally perceived as figure (object), while the surrounding area is perceived as ground
(background).
14. What is the ‘figure’? What is the ‘ground?
Your experience of these stimuli should suggest to you that some boundaries are perceived effortlessly and rapidly.
Others require more effort, which is to say that you have to do a serial search to determine where the boundaries might
be. In a similar fashion, Bob Weber, Jr. draws cartoons (Slylock Fox) in which there are differences between two images,
but they are not readily apparent.
15. Find the six differences in the images below and note them in the order in which you spot them.
16. Why is it that the differences don't simply "pop out" but require a serial search?
Below you see a simple illustration of an object.
17. Describe the processes that you think allows you to arrive at your perception of the object.
18. Describe the principles that allow you (or an artist) to portray such impossible objects.
Bonus questions for extra credit:
Read the following
Aoccudrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a wrod
are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl
mses and you can still raed it wouthit porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter
by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
19. Did you have difficulty reading the passage? Why or why not?
20. Explain why you can still read the passage despite the letters being mixed up.
Monocular Depth Cues
21. What is a monocular depth cue?
Glance quickly at the part (a) without looking at it again, describe the emotion on the face of the higher
(back) monster.
22. Describe the emotion on the face of the lower (front) monster.
Look at parts (a) and (b) again.
23. Which monster and which orange bar appear to be larger?
24. Make two marks on a straight edge piece of paper and use this as a ruler to measure the actual results.
What about these two pictures makes it difficult at first glance to accurately compare the images?
25. Examine the monsters more closely and note that they are identical. How did context affect your
perception of their emotions?