Gestalt+Principles

=Gestalt Principles=

Gestalt Principles refers to the theories of visual perception where people preceive several visual elements as a whole (SFCC, 2007). The Principles include: similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, and figure and ground (SFCC, 2007)

Similarity
Similiarity is when elements look like each other in shape, size, colour, texture, value, or orientation, and thus they are perceived as a collective (SFCC, 2007). In design where similarity is used, making one dissimilar to the rest can emphasize additional objects. This is known as anomaly (SFCC, 2007).

(SFCC, 2007)

Continuation
Continuation is where a viewer's eye is compelled to follow a visual path which leads or 'continues' to other elements (SFCC, 2007) It can also refer to combined elements that form one whole continuous figure (Skaalid, 1999).

(SFCC, 2007)

Closure
Closure occurs where incomplete shape(s) are visually filled in to form a complete image (also called reification) (Wiki, 2007) If enough of a form is visible, viewer perceive the image by completing the missing information (SFCC, 2007).

(SFCC, 2007)

Proximity
Proximity occurs where elements are placed close to each other and are perceived as a group (SFCC, 2007). If a number of figures are seen separately they are seen individually, but once they have a close proximity that form a unified whole (SFCC, 2007).

(SFCC, 2007)

Figure and ground
Figure and ground is where the eye recognizes a form (figure) separate from the surrounding area (ground) (Wiki, 2007). This relationship can change when images can be recognized in both positive and negative areas (multistability) (Wiki, 2007). When figure and ground are balanced, they can make an image clear (SFCC, 2007).

(SFCC, 2007)

Below is an example of Gestalt. The positive and negative parts of the image create two images: two faces or a goblet.

Resources
SFCC. "The Gestalt Principles." __SFCC__. 2007. &lt;[|http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm&gt;.] Skaalid, Bonnie. "Gestalt Principles of Perception." __Web Design For Instruction__. 1999. &lt;[|http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/gestalt/gestalt.htm&gt;.] Wikipedia. "Gestalt Psychology." __Wikipedia__. 2007. &lt;[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology&gt;.]

Online Image. __Gestalt Approach__. 20 September 2007. "Closure" [|] 25 September 2007. SFCC. "The Gestalt Principles." __SFCC__. 2007. &lt;[|http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm&gt;.]