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Which is darker..... square A or B ?

pschlute
Posted 12/11/2021 - 10:03 Link
This is an old one, but still amazes me every time.

Which is darker ? A or B

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Flan
Posted 12/11/2021 - 11:48 Link
When I squinted my eyes,it made me think B but you’ve already suggested that 😆
I’m probably incorrect 🤦‍♂️
Interesting though , which is it?
pschlute
Posted 12/11/2021 - 12:16 Link
Flan wrote:

Interesting though , which is it?

Both exactly the same shade. Open the image in any editing software and use the eyedropper or similar cursor tool.
LennyBloke
Posted 12/11/2021 - 13:19 Link
It's funny the difference between what you know (B is a white square and A is a grey square) and how your brain processes it. White is white so it has to be lighter
LennyBloke
pschlute
Posted 12/11/2021 - 13:34 Link
LennyBloke wrote:
It's funny the difference between what you know (B is a white square and A is a grey square) and how your brain processes it. White is white so it has to be lighter

and even when you know it, you cannot tell your brain to stop playing tricks

"I saw it with my own eyes"
1stEverPentax
Posted 12/11/2021 - 15:58 Link
Are we talking about absolute shades or relative?

The shadow from the green cylinder impacts on 'B' but not 'A'...however on my monitor 'A' is definitely
a darker shade than 'B'...to my eyes allowing for the shadow from cylinder.

regards

Karlo
pschlute
Posted 12/11/2021 - 16:09 Link
1stEverPentax wrote:
Are we talking about absolute shades or relative?

The shadow from the green cylinder impacts on 'B' but not 'A'...however on my monitor 'A' is definitely
a darker shade than 'B'...to my eyes allowing for the shadow from cylinder.

regards

Karlo

Your eyes/brain make "A" appear darker than "B". But it is an illusion.

This is what you get if you cut the two squares out in photoshop. You can also print the image and use a pair of scissors

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Lubbyman
Posted 12/11/2021 - 16:31 - Helpful Comment Link
Alternatively, expand the image so each square is fairly large, then take either A or B and progressively shield more and more of its surroundings (use your hands or any other convenient objects). You brain gradually adjusts the shade of grey as less and less of the surrundings can be seen. A gets lighter, B gets darker. When only the square can be seen, both A and B appear the same. Or at least that's what my brain does!

It does make you wonder why there is an obsession in some quarters with things like the ultimate in sharpness or perfect white balance, when the brain is going to reprocess what the eyes see.

Steve
pschlute
Posted 12/11/2021 - 17:08 Link
Lubbyman wrote:
When only the square can be seen, both A and B appear the same. Or at least that's what my brain does!

Yes, and that is confirmed by using an eye-dropper tool in Photoshop. Both the A and B squares read the same.... R:111 G:111 B:111

They are both the identical shade of grey. Our eyes/brain tell us something different, which is quite fascinating.


Lubbyman wrote:

It does make you wonder why there is an obsession in some quarters with things like the ultimate in sharpness or perfect white balance, when the brain is going to reprocess what the eyes see.

Indeed....like I said above...."but i saw it with my own eyes"
Edited by pschlute: 12/11/2021 - 17:10
Posted 12/11/2021 - 18:50 Link
OMG my eyes tricked me.

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