Color scission and phenomenal transparency.

Abstract

When an observer with a holistic viewing attitude perceives transparency in an achromatic two-dimensional pattern, some areas of the pattern form a single transparent phenomenal surface. In each of these areas the observer simultaneously perceives the gray color of the transparent surface and the gray color of the background that is visible through the transparent surface. With an analytic viewing attitude the observer perceives a single gray color in each area of the pattern. When the viewing attitude changes from analytic to holistic, the term color scission means the phenomenal replacement of the single analytically perceived gray color of an area of the pattern with the two gray colors that are perceived in the same area when such area forms a transparent surface. The concept of color scission has been used by Moore Heider and Metelli to explain phenomenal transparency. An analysis of experimental results reported in the literature shows that color scission does not occur in transparent patterns formed by only three areas and that it involves incorrect predictions of the occurrence of transparency in patterns formed by four or more areas. It is concluded that in general the concept of color scission is inadequate to explain phenomenal transparency.