Luminance contrast as depth cue: Investigation and design applications

It is known that contrast can be an effective depth cue on planar displays. However, previous studies do not provide enough information on the impact of luminance contrast and luminance distribution patterns on perceived distances in three-dimensional built spaces. This research investigates the role of luminance contrast and luminance distribution patterns on space perception of three-dimensional layouts. Three experiments were conducted to study the impact of the following parameters on depth perception: 1) investigation of different lighting apertures, 2) lighting distribution patterns, and 3) luminance contrast as a depth cue. It is concluded that the luminance contrast of a target against its surround is an effective depth cue that can increase or decrease the perceived distance of a visual target in a built space. The application of this depth cue is demonstrated through an architectural design example.