Rules of Perceptual Organization - Rules 1-4

Chelsey Bunner: Rules of Perceptual Organization

Closure:

Closure is where objects grouped together are seen as a whole. Its the belief that the brain tends to perceive forms and figures in their complete appearance despite the absence of one or more of their parts. For example, when a person sees a circle drawn with dotted lines, they still see a Circe, even though its not actually complete. This image shows closure because even though the picture is only a fraction of the full image, people can still identify the photo as a window washer, or painter.

Continuity:

Continuity is when stimuli tend to be grouped as to minimize change or discontinuity. Its where lines are seen as following the smoothest path.
This image shows continuance because of the side walk and line of the ocean. They both create a smooth path for the Roller-blader to follow 

Similarity:

Similarity refers to items that are similar tend to be grouped together. The law of similarity holds that a person can normally recognize stimuli that has physical resemblance at some degree as part of the same object. Similarity occurs when forms, colors, sizes or objects look enough alike to be perceived as a group or pattern in a person's mind. For example, these rows of chairs are grouped together because of how similar they are. So people can recognize that they are apart of the same group.

Proximity:

Proximity is when objects near each other tend to be grouped together. Stimulus elements that are closed together tend to be perceived as a group. For example, in the following image, the fan appears to be coming out of the cops head, like spiky hair, but actually it just seems that way because they are close together.