Reflection

REFLECTION[From: Light and Color, by Clarence Rainwater, Prof. of Physics, San Francisco State College, Original Project Editor Herbert S. Zim, Golden Press, NY, Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1971.]

It is of two kinds--diffuse and regular.

Diffuse reflection is the kind by which we ordinarily see objects. It gives us information about their shape, size, color and texture.

Regular reflection is mirrorlike. We don't see the surface of the mirror; instead, we see objects that are reflected in it. When light strikes a mirror at an angle, it is reflected at the same angle.

In diffuse reflection, light leaves at many different angels. The degree of surface roughness determines the proportion of diffuse and regular reflection that occurs. Reflection from a smooth, polished surface like a mirror is mostly regular, while diffuse reflection takes place at surfaces that are rough compared with the wavelength of light. Since the wavelength of light is very small (about 5,000 A), most reflection is diffuse.... Viewed microscopically, all reflection is regular. The appearance of diffuse reflection is due to the many different angles that light rays encounter when they strike a rough surface. The reflection of each single ray is regular--that is, it is reflected at the same angle at which it strikes the surface. A fairly smooth surface, such as that of a glossy vinyl raincoat, shows both diffuse and regular reflection, the relative proportions depending on the angle of the incident light. But a rough surface, such as that of a tweed coat, shows only diffuse reflection. It has no "shiny" surface. [pg. 39]

Reflection varies with the type of material. Polished metal reflects most of the light that falls on it, absorbs only a little, and transmits practically none. Paper is made up of partly transparent fibers. Light striking paper may penetrate several fibers, being partly reflected at each surface. The light that finally reaches your eyes and lets you know you are looking at paper has been reflected and transmitted many times. All the rest of the light has been absorbed and added to the heat energy of the molecules of the paper. Most materials are quite selective in the way they absorb and reflect the different wavelengths of light. A purple dye will transmit blue and red light but will absorb green light. Gold and copper metals reflect red and yellow wavelengths more strongly than blue. Silver reflects all colors and therefore appears almost white. Metallic reflection is an example of pure surface color. Nearly all "object colors" are due to selective reflection and absorption of light. Object colors are an attribute of the object, though the color seen at any time depends also on the color of the illumination. Total absorption of light makes an object look black..... Reflected light reveals the color and texture of woven cloth. What we normally consider as reflection involves selective absorption, selective reflection and refraction of light that partially penetrates the surface. [pg. 40]

Laws of Reflection
1. Angle of reflection equals angel of incidence.

2. Incident and reflected rays lie in the same plane.

3. Incident and reflected rays are on opposite sides of the normal--a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface and passing though the point of incidence. [pg. 41]

[Light and Color, by Clarence Rainwater, Prof. of Physics, San Francisco State College, Original Project Editor Herbert S. Zim, Golden Press, NY, Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1971.]

Development - Plural Forms
Repeating a singular form establishes a plural form [see Singular Forms]. The singular forms, now components, could vary externally and/or internally. They could touch, overlap, join, or remain separate. Joining representational forms can result in a rather unnaturalistic, yet interesting design. Separate forms must be adjacent, with one intruding the semienclosed space of the other if they are to be considered plural.

Two or more components can be arranged in accordance with the following concepts:

a. Translation - varying the positions , but not the directions, of components.

b. Rotation - varying the directions, with minimal change in position, of components.

c. Reflection - creating components as mirror images

d. Dilation - increasing the size of superimposed or adjacent components.

Positions of components are also effected with rotation and reflection and frequently with dilation. Positional changes in such cases should be kept to a minimum.

Components can also be grouped randomly, or using a combination of the concepts described above.

[Wong, Wucius. Principals of Two-Dimensional Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1972.]

Gradation - The Gradation Structure
A gradation structure is similar to a repetition structure except that the structural subdivisions do not remain repetitive but change in size, shape, or both, in a gradual, systematic sequence.

Most repetition structures can be converted into gradation structures. Let us examine such possibilities in the same way as we discussed the variations of the basic grid...:

a) Change of Size and/or Proportion. The structural subdivisions of a basic grid can increase or decrease in size [with or without change of proportion] gradually from one to the next. The vertical or horizontal structural lines or both of the basic grid can be spaced with gradually increasing or decreasing widths. gradation can proceed from narrow to wide, and then wide to narrow again, or can be arranged in any rhythmical sequence.

b) Change of Direction. The entire set of vertical or horizontal structural lines, or both, in (a) can be tilted in any desired direction.

c) Sliding. The entire row of vertical or horizontal structural subdivisions in (a) or (b) can be made to slide regularly so that one subdivision is not directly next to or above another.

d) Curving, Bending. The entire set of vertical or horizontal structural lines, or both, in (a) , (b), or (c) can be curved or bent gradually or regularly.

e) Reflection. A row of non-right-angled structural subdivisions as in (b) or (d) can be reflected and repeated alternately or regularly.

f) Combining. Structural subdivisions in (a) or (b) can be combined to form bigger or more complex shapes with the effect of gradation.

g) Further Dividing. Structural subdivisions in all gradation structures can be subdivided into smaller or more complex shapes.

h) The Triangular Grid. The triangular grid of a repetition structure can be transformed into a gradation structure by gradually varying the size and shape of the triangles.

g) The Hexagonal Grid. The hexagonal grid of a repetition structure can be transformed into a gradation structure by gradually varying the size and shape of the hexagons.

[Wong, Wucius. Principals of Two-Dimensional Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1972.]

R  E  F  E  R  E  N  C  E  S 

Reflection n [ME, alter. of reflexion, fr. LL. reflexion-, reflexio act of bending back, fr. L reflectere] [14c] 1: an instance of reflecting: esp: the return of light or sound waves from a surface 2: the production of an image by or as if by a mirror. 3a: the action of bending or folding back b: a reflected part: Fold 4: something produced by reflecting: as a: an image given back by a reflecting surface b: an effect produced by an influence [the high crime rate is a _ of our violent society] 5: an often obscure or indirect criticism: Reproach [a _ on his character] 6: a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation 7: consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose 8 obs: turning back: Return 9a: a transformation of a figure in which each point is replaced by a point symmetric with respect to a line or plane b: a transformation that involves reflection in more than one axis of a rectangular coordinate system

Reflective adj [1627] 1: capable of reflecting light images, or sound waves 2: marked by reflection: Thoughtful, Deliberative 3: of, relating to, or caused by reflection [ _ glare] 4: Reflexive 3