Abstract
The perceptual properties of a transparent surface may be evaluated under a normal or an analytical attitude. Under the normal attitude, we perceive two overlapping surfaces: one transparent and one a background. Under the analytical attitude, we perceptually isolate single regions in the transparent surface. The methodological problem of whether observers are able to maintain an analytical attitude when asked to rate the single lightness of an isolated region has been faced here. The results show that observers have this ability. Moreover, the results indicate that the lightness estimated under the analytical attitude is entirely independent of the lightnesses of the two overlapping surfaces perceived under the normal attitude.
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Masin, S.C., Quarta, A. Experimental demonstration that observers produce unbiased estimates of reduction lightness in transparent surfaces. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 22, 529–530 (1984). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333898
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333898