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Less is more: subjective detailedness depends on stimulus size
Sven P Heinrich1, Michael Bach
1Sektion Funktionelle Sehforschung, Univ.-Augenklinik Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. sven.heinrich@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Journal of Vision
|October 2, 2010
Summary
Smaller images appear more detailed than larger ones, even with identical objective detail. This visual perception effect is significant and robust across different image types and repetitions.
Area of Science:
- Visual perception
- Image processing
- Psychophysics
Background:
- Subjective detailedness is the perceived detail in an image.
- Previous studies suggest image size influences subjective detailedness, but results are inconclusive.
- The effect's magnitude, direction, and robustness in natural images require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between image size and subjective detailedness.
- To quantify the effect of image scaling on perceived detail.
- To determine if the effect is robust across different image types and experimental repetitions.
Main Methods:
- A two-interval forced choice task was used.
- Subjects compared pairs of images, one scaled down (one-third linear size) but otherwise identical.
- Objective detailedness was manipulated using low-pass filters to find points of subjective equivalence.
Main Results:
- For equivalent subjective detailedness, larger images required 0.26-0.48 log units higher objective detailedness than smaller images.
- This indicates smaller images are perceived as more detailed when objective detailedness is equal.
- The effect was found to be sizable and robust across subjects and repetitions.
Conclusions:
- Smaller images are perceived as more detailed than larger images under conditions of equal objective detailedness.
- The findings are not easily explained by contrast sensitivity differences.
- The effect likely originates from visuo-cognitive evaluation strategies.
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