Contrast perception across changes in luminance and spatial frequency

The interaction of the effects of luminance and spatial frequency on perception of suprathreshold contrast was studied with use of a contrast-matching paradigm. Four subjects matched the appearance of Gabor patches at different luminances and spatial frequencies. The contrast of a 1-octave Gabor test patch at one of five frequencies [1-16 cycles/degree (c/deg) in 1-octave steps] and at one of seven mean luminance levels (0.5-50 cd/m2 in 1/3-log-unit steps) was matched, by the method of adjustment to a standard patch of 3 c/deg at 50 cd/m2 at a nominal contrast of 0.3. For each block of trials the spatial frequency of the test patch was randomly changed (three repetitions at each frequency per block) while the luminance was fixed. The subject regularly shifted fixation between the two targets in response to a metronome tone every 1.5 s. Contrast constancy was demonstrated across the entire luminance range tested for all but the two highest frequencies. For 8 c/deg the perceived test contrast was reduced only when the luminance was less than 2 cd/m2. For 16 c/deg, perceived contrast decreased linearly (with a slope of -1/2 on a log scale) with decreases in luminance across the entire luminance range. As at threshold, reduction in luminance across the levels commonly available on a CRT display has only minimal effects on low-frequency suprathreshold contrast perception. However, the apparent contrast of high-frequency features, in binocular free-viewing conditions, is rapidly reduced with a local reduction in screen luminance. This effect has important implications for visual models used in image-quality analysis.