Perceptual Color Transparency Based on Color Signal Statistics

Abstract

The relationship between the statistical properties of a color signal and the conditions for perceptual color transparency was investigated. First, we investigated the physical change in color statistics by overlapping transparent color filters. The transparent color filters shifted the average of color signal and reduced its variance. Moreover, the color and luminance signals were highly correlated. A transparent field was perceived in the simulated scenes which consist of color noise with similar statistical changes caused by transparent color filters. We also performed a psychophysical experiment to investigate what effect color statistics have on surface segregation. The results suggest that second order statistics (correlation) is used in the visual system as one of the cues for perceptual color transparency.