Pincushion grid illusion of neon color spreading

since December 2, 2004


"Pincusion grid illusion of neon color spreading"1)

Illusory light-blue lines appear to run vertically or horizontally over the homogeneously white background. I think this phenomenon is closely related to "Spinnwebfäden"2) or "colored street"3).

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2001

1) Kitaoka, A. (2001).@Illusion designology (7): Illusory light perception that cannot be explained by the Fourier analysis. Nikkei Science, 31(8), 66-68 (in Japanese).

2) Prandtl, A. (1927). Über gleichsinnege Induktion und die Lichtverteilung in gitterartigen Mustern. Zeitschrift für Sinnesphysiologie, 58, 263-307.

3) Redies, C., Spillmann, L. and Kunz, K. (1984). Colored neon flanks and line gap enhancement. Vision Research, 24, 1301-1309.


"Neon color spreading with white, red and light blue"

When the inducing grating is vertical or horizontal, the illusory patches of neon color spreading are observed well. This anisotropy is called the "oblique effect"1). Colored streets can also be seen in this image.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2004 (December 2)

1) Redies, C. and Spillmann, L. (1981). The neon color effect in the Ehrenstein illusion. Perception, 10, 667-681.


"Pincusion grid illusion of neon color spreading: a printing-OK version"1)

Illusory red lines appear to run vertically or horizontally over the homogeneously white background.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2004 (December 2)

The order of lightness of stimuli is critical for neon color spreading, but there is a problem that the color in CRT or LCD monitors cannot necessarily be matched with the color in printing. This version has no problem.


"Colored ray illusion"1)

Illusory red lines appear to run obliquely over the homogeneously white background.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2001

1) Kitaoka, A. (2001). Illusion designology (7): Illusory light perception that cannot be explained by the Fourier analysis. Nikkei Science, 31(8), 66-68 (in Japanese).


"Colored ray illusion #2"1)

Illusory yellow lines appear to run obliquely over the homogeneously white background.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2001

1) Kitaoka, A. (2001). Illusion designology (7): Illusory light perception that cannot be explained by the Fourier analysis. Nikkei Science, 31(8), 66-68 (in Japanese).


"Colored ray illusion #3"1)

Illusory green lines appear to run obliquely over the homogeneously white background.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2001

1) Kitaoka, A. (2001). Illusion designology (7): Illusory light perception that cannot be explained by the Fourier analysis. Nikkei Science, 31(8), 66-68 (in Japanese).


"Colored ray illusion #4

Illusory green lines appear to run obliquely over the homogeneously white background.

Copyright Akiyoshi Kitaoka 2008 (August 30)


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