Exercise 3 - Alex and Zach

Law of Pragnanz

Sometimes referred to as the "law of good figure or the law of simplicity" the Law of Pragnanz suggests that objects in the environment are seen in the simplest possible way. Pragnanz is a "Gestlat grouping principle of shape perception" which suggests that the whole of an object is greater than the sum of the parts.

Proximity

Another of the Gestalt principles, proximity or continuity suggests that "things which are closer together will be seen as belonging together. Although very similar, the law of continuity states that humans have a natural preference for continuous figures.

Figure Ground Relationship

The interaction of two elements known as shape and field is what is commonly referred to as a "Figure Ground Relationship". This relationship allows us to assess the space in what is being viewed by connecting the surface on which the figure sits.

http://graphics.ignatius.edu/flash_pages/figure_ground.shtml
http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/gestalt/similar.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/sensationandperception/ss/gestaltlaws_3.htm
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=792679