We are able to differentiate figures as distinct from the backgrounds. This means that we are able to distinguish that a pen or a coffee cup are separate entities which are different from the table upon which they rest.
We perceive some differences between the figure and ground:
- Figures tend to have more meaning than the background and are easily remembered.
- Figures appear closer to the ground.
- Figures shows more brightness contrast than the area perceived as ground.
- Figures seem to have a shape as opposed to the background, which is relatively formless.
Tessellations:
When figures are repeated alternately with ground (without overlapping) it is called a tessellation.
They are only three polygons that can tessellate a plane without being combined with other polygons. They are
• Equilateral Triangles
• Squares and
• Regular hexagons.
In addition to these, any triangle or quadrilateral will tessellate.
Tessellations can be created mainly by three kinds of transformations
• Translations (slides)
• Rotations (turns) and
• Reflections (flips).
Few examples are given below: