Do surface reflectance properties and 3-D mesostructure influence the perception of lightness?

Area of Science:

• Visual perception
• Surface properties
• Lightness constancy

Background:

• Perceived lightness is influenced by surface reflectance and 3-D structure.
• Understanding how surface mesostructure affects lightness constancy is crucial for visual science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of surface mesostructure and gloss on perceived lightness.
• To determine the role of contrast distribution in lightness constancy for 3-D surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Experiments varied surface relief (mesostructure) and gloss.
• Comparisons were made between 3-D textured surfaces and flat control displays (histogram-matched, phase-scrambled).
• Perceived lightness and lightness constancy were assessed under different display conditions.

Main Results:

• Lightness constancy was superior for targets on glossy 3-D surfaces compared to matte surfaces.
• Flat displays showed abrupt lightness shifts, unlike 3-D surfaces.
• Improved lightness constancy with 3-D gloss displays was linked to contrast distribution, not explicit shading or specularity.

Conclusions:

• The distribution of contrast across space and scale explains improved lightness constancy on 3-D surfaces.
• Simple flat displays may trigger complex mid-level representations akin to transparency.
• Surface mesostructure and reflectance properties are key determinants of perceived lightness.