Brief overview and breakdown of each of the nine elements of visual perception.
Let us know in the comments below where you have noticed any of these elements.
1. Line, outline, edge
Line, Edge and Outline
The boundary or border, a spatial location, a separation or
distinction.
Everything, especially man-made items, have a line or edge
to them. These lines and edges often lead to the outline of
an object. The human eye picks up lines, edges and
outlines very easily. An untrained individual may see a line
or edge while a trained individual will see outline.
Any object silhouetted against a contrasting background is
conspicuous. Any smooth, flat background, such as water,
a field, or best of all, the sky, will cause an object to
become well delineated. However, special care must be
taken when searching areas with an uneven background,
as it is more difficult to detect the silhouette of an object
2. Shape
A shape is the visual characteristic surface configuration of
a thing. It is distinguished from its surroundings by its
outline, contour, or figure.
Outlines are created when lines and edges come together.
When we perceive the outline, it becomes a shape.
The human eye readily picks up shapes, especially of other
humans or potential threats (e.g. rifle). Some objects can be
recognized instantly by their shape, particularly if it
contrasts with the background.
3. Contrast or value
Contrast is a difference, especially a strong dissimilarity,
between entities or objects compared. Value is the relative
importance or tone of something, darkness or lightness of
color.
4. Color
The aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of
the light reflected or emitted by them, definable in terms of
the observer or of the light as:
The appearance of objects or light sources described in
terms of the individual’s perception of them, involving hue,
lightness, and saturation for light sources.
The characteristics of light by which the individual is made
aware of objects or light sources through the receptors of
the eye, described in terms of dominant wavelength,
luminance, and purity.
The best camouflage colors are those
that are most difficult to determine exact color.
5. Texture
The distinctive physical composition or structure of
something, especially with respect to the size, shape, and
arrangements of its parts, appearance and feel of a surface.
Similar to color, texture has a baseline. An object with a
smooth surface reflects light and becomes more obvious
than an object with a rough surface that casts shadows on
itself. An extremely smooth object becomes shiny. If an
object has a surface that contrasts with its surroundings, it
becomes conspicuous.
6. Rhythm and flow
The patterned, recurring alternations of contrasting
elements, movement or variation characterized by the
regular recurrence or alternation of different quantities or
conditions; a pattern created by lines, forms and colors
7. Movement
Movement is one of the biggest disturbances to a baseline.
The human eye is strongly attracted to any movement. The
human eye can detect another human or animal within
seconds by watching the movement of an appendage.
Physical movement is from the person actually moving.
This is readily detectable.
8. Light
Light impacts colors and the value of colors. Some animals
have a dark back and light underbelly. The sun lightens the
dark back color and the shadow cast from above darkens
the lighter underbelly near the ground making the animal
seem less three-dimensional.
Flat surfaces reflect light while rough surfaces absorb it.
The reflections from a belt buckle, watch, or optical device
can be seen over a mile away from the source. Any shine
will attract the observer’s attention.
In sunlight, an object or a man will cast a shadow that can
give away his presence. Shadows may be more revealing
than the object itself. Care must be taken to detect
alterations of the natural shape of a shadow. Where light is
excessively bright, shadows will look especially black.
Contrast will be extreme, and in this exaggerated contrast
the observer’s eye cannot adjust to both areas
simultaneously. This requires the observer to “isolate” the
shadowed area from the bright sunlight so that his eye can
adapt to the shadow.
9. Positive and negative space
Positive Space. Positive space is a space that takes up
mass (solid objects) such as buildings, trees, signs,
vehicles, etc. Typically, a Marine cannot see through
positive space. The human eye will naturally move from
positive space to positive space, as the eye is attracted to
this.
Negative Space. Negative space is the space between the
positive spaces. This is the area of shadow and
background activity that an untrained observer often
overlooks. Good camouflage resembles negative space; it
doesn’t resemble positive space, such as a leaf.
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