Dressing Up for a BBQ on a Blurry Street: #TheDress Is Not Only Ambiguous in Terms of Illumination But Also in Terms of Scene Content. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martinovic, Jasna
• Is Part Of: I-Perception. Volume 10:Number 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: colour -- ambiguity -- colour constancy -- illumination -- #TheDress; Perception -- Periodicals; Visual perception -- Periodicals; Perception; Perception; Electronic journals; Periodical; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 153.7
• DOI: 10.1177/2041669519856037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6695

Abstract

Explicit or implicit assumptions about the source of illumination are a key determinant of perceived colours from the image of #TheDress. In addition, previous work showed that the extent of the processing of contextual cues in the image may be reduced in blue and black perceivers. This is a brief report of a questionnaire study which focused on the ambiguity of light direction as well as on the ambiguity of the content of #TheDress photograph itself. We replicated previous reports about the importance of perceived light direction: White and gold perceivers were more likely to report light from the back than sideways light. Descriptions of #TheDress image did not relate to perceived colour or light direction, but there were many erroneous reports and a high level of ambiguity. It is highly likely that the ambiguity of image content feeds into the importance of implicit factors that influence perceived illumination as determinants of dress colour.