Pictorial spacecrafts - the Ames' Glass

Area of Science:

• Visual Perception
• Art Appreciation
• Psychophysics

Background:

• Stereopsis can be evoked without binocular disparities using methods like closing one eye or using a synopter.
• Ames' Glass, a lens creating a 'plastic effect,' is one such method involving a cylindrical lens before one eye.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the qualitative perceptual effects of viewing artworks through a cylindrical lens (Ames' Glass).
• To compare these effects with existing knowledge on monocular aperture viewing.

Main Methods:

• 38 participants viewed three digital art reproductions.
• Initial spontaneous reporting of perceptual effects.
• Second phase rating seven qualities: depth, color, 3D shape, realism, detail, light, and material.

Main Results:

• 66% of participants reported increased depth experience.
• Increased contrast, color vibrancy, and material expression were also reported.
• All rated qualities increased significantly, except detail, which showed mixed results (decrease for most, increase for some).

Conclusions:

• Ames' Glass enhances depth perception and other visual qualities in artworks.
• This method, relying on distorted binocular disparities, complements monocular aperture viewing (which relies on absence of disparities).
• Both Ames' Glass and monocular aperture viewing are suitable for art gallery experiences.