Effects of Surface Perception for the Color Splitting Phenomenon in Transparency

Abstract

When a transparent surface overlays another surface, we can perceive both surfaces simultaneously in the overlapping region. For chromatic transparency, the overlapping region has a single chromaticity, but perceptually it is split into two differently colored layers. In this study, we found that the perception of a surface could change the chromatic appearance of the overlapping region. We used a stimulus surface filled with random dots. The display was divided diagonally into two different colored regions. A square region was presented in the center. Two squares appeared by motion of random dots in each surround. These were arranged so that the center square became the overlapping region. We measured the percentage of perceiving the center square to be transparent as a function of the speed in the center square. Transparency occurred when all the square regions moved at the same speed. We found that the center square dramatically changed in appearance from opaque to transparent depending on its speed.