Design Basics - Principles of Two-Dimensional Design - Vision and Invention - Form, Space, and Vision -
Perceiving Boundaries
Is the ability to understand drawings learned? Humans almost always appear to understand lines that represent the edges of surfaces. We also have no problem with a single line used to depict the parallel edges of a narrow object, such as a rope. One thing that we do not easily recognize is lines showing color boundaries on the surface of an object.
To illustrate the last point, let's pay a brief visit to the Songe, a small tribe in Papua New Guinea. Before they were tested, the Songe had never made or seen line drawings--not even doodles scratched on the ground. As a test, the Songe were shown drawings of a hand and a parrot. They easily recognized the hand and the parrot from simple outlines, but lines showing color boundaries confused them. The half-moons on the fingernails, for example, made them think that the nails had been damaged and new ones were growing in. Similarly they thought that the parrot must have been cut repeatedly. They thought this even though the lines in the drawing match color markings of parrots found in Songe territory (Kennedy, 1983). [Coon, Dennis. Introduction to Psychology, Exploration and Application. St. Paul: West Publishing Company, 1989.]
R E F E R E N C E S
1 Line n, often attrib [ME; partl fr. OF ligne, fr. L linea, fr. fem. of lineus made of flax. fr. linum flax; partly fr. OE line; akin to OE lin flax -more at Linen] [bef. 12c] 1a: Thread, String, Cord, Rope, as [1]: a comparatively strong slender cord [2]: Clothesline [3]: a rope used on shipboard b [1]: a device for catching fish consisting of a cord with hooks and other fishing gear [2]: scope for activity: Rope c: a length of material used in measuring and leveling d: piping for conveying a fluid [as steam] e [1]: a wire or pair of wires connecting one telegraph or telepone station with another or a whole s ystem of such wires; also: any circuit in an electronic communication system [2]: a telephone connection [tried to get a __]; also: an individual telephone extension [a call on __ 2] [3]: the principal circuits of an electric power system 2a [1]: a horizontal row of written or printed characters: also: a blank row in lieu of such characters [2]: a unit in the rhythmic structure of verse formed by the grouping of a number of the smallest units of the rhythm [as metrical feet] [3]: an often numbred section of a computer program containing a single command or a small number of commands b: a short letter: Note cpl: a certificate of marriage d: the words making up a part in a drama -usu. used in pl. e: any of the successive horizontal rows of picture elements on the screen of a cathode-ray tube [as a television screen] 3a: something [as a ridge or seam] that is distinct, elongated and narrow b: a narrow crease [as on the face]: Wrinkle c: the course or direction of something in motion: Route d [1]: a state of agreement or conformity: Accordance [2]: a state of order, control, or obedience [youÍre getting out of __] e: a boundary of an area [the state __] f: the track and roadbed of a railway g: an amount of cocaine that is arranged in a line to be inhaled through the nose 4a: a course of conduct, action, or thought b: a field of activity or interest c: a glib often persuasive way of talking 5a: Limit, Restraint b archaic : position in life: Lot 6a: [1]: Family, Lineage [2]: a strain produced and maintained esp. by selective breednig or biological culture [3]: a chronological series b: dispositions made to cover extended military positions and presenting a front to the enemy -usu. used in pl. c: a military formation in which the different elements are abreast of each other d: naval ships arranged in a regular order e [1]: the combatent forces of an army distinguished from the staff corps and supply services [2]: the force of a regular navy f [1]: officers of the navy eligible for command at sea distinguished from officers of the staff [2]: officers of the army belonging to a combatant branch g: an arrangement or placement of persons or objects of one kind in an orderly series [a __ of trees] [stand on __] [waiting in __]; also: the persons or objects so positioned [the __ moved slowly at the bank] b [1]: a group of public conveyances plying regu arly under one management over a route [2]: a system of transportation together with its equipment, routes, and appurtenenances; also: the company owning or operating it i: a succession of musical notes esp. considered in melodic phrases j [1]: an arrangement of operations in manufacturing permitting sequential occurrence on various stages of production [2]: the personnel of an organization that are responsible for its stated objective k [1]: the 7 players including center, 2 quards, 2 tackles, and 2 ends who in offensive football play line up on or within one foot of the line of scrimmage [2]: the players who in defensive play line up within one yard of the line of scrimage 7: a narrow elongated mark drawn or projected; as a [1]: a circle of latitude or longitude on a map [2]: Equator b: a mark [as on a map] recording a boundary, division, or contour c: any of the horizontal parallel strokes on a music staff on or between which notes are placed -compare Space d: a mark [as by pencil] that forms part of the formal design of a picture distinguished from the shading or color c: a division on a bridge score dividing the score for bonuses from that for tricks f [1]: a demarcation of a limit with reference to which the playing of some game or sport is regulated -usu. used in combination [2]: a marked or imaginary line across a playing area [as a football field] parallel to the end line [3]: Line of Scrimmage 8: a straight or curved geometric element that is generated by a moving point and that has extension only along the path of the point: Curve 9a: a defining outline: Contour b: a general plan: Model -usu. used in pl. 10a chiefly Brit: PICA -used to indicate the size of large type b:; the unit of fineness of halftones expressed as the number of screen lines to the linear inch 11: merchandise or services of the same general class for sale or regularly available 12a: a source of information: Insight b: betting odds offered by a bookmaker esp. on a sporting event 13: a complete game of 10 frames in bowling -called also string 14: line Drive - between the lines 1: by implication: in an indirect way 2: by way of inference -down the line: al the way: Fully -in line for: due or in a position to receive -on line: in or into operation -on the line 1: in complete commitment and at great risk [puts his f uture on the line by backing that policy] 2: on the border between two categories 3: Immediately [paid cash on the line]
2 Line vt [1530] 1: to mark or cover with a line or lines [lined paper] 2: to depict with lines: Draw 3: to place or form a line along [pedestrians __ the walks] 4: to form into a line or lines: Align [__ up the troops] 5: to hit [as a baseball] hard and in a usu. straight line -vi 1: to hit a line drive in baseball 2: to come into the correct relative position: Align
3 Line vt [ME, fr. line flax, fr. OE lin] [14c] 1: to cover the inner surface of [__ a cloak with silk] 2: to put something in the inside of: Fill 3: to serve as the lining of [tapestries lined the walls] 4 obs: Fortify . . . .
Linear adj [ca. 1656] 1a [1]: of, relating to, resembling, or having a graph that is a line and esp. a straight line: Straight [2]: involving a singel dimension b [1]: of the first degree with respect to one or more variables [2]: of, relating to, based on, or being linear equations, linear differential equations, linear functions, linear transformations, or linear algebra c [1]: characterized by an emphasis on line [__ art] [2]: composed of simply drawn lines with little attempt at pictorial representation [__ script] d: consisting of a straight chain of atoms 2: elongated with nearly parallel sides [__ leaf] -see Leaf illustration 3: having or being a response or output that is directly propportional to the input 4: of, relating to, or based or depending on sequential development [__ thinking] [a __ narrative]
[Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition. Springfield, MA, USA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 1995.]
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