On 11/9/07 8:47 AM, "David Glasgow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hello folks, > > I am writing a psychological assessment which involves visual signal > detection. Basically, a 'blob' slowly appears at a random point > within one of three invisible rectangles. I have just about cracked > the random generation of a loc within a given object. > > What I am having trouble with is understanding exactly what the blend > level integers represent. I am not image savvy, and don't know if > these are, or can be related to, any recognised and objective > transparency units. Any recommended reading on this sort of thing? > > Two specific issues are > > 1/ A blendlevel set at 50 looks less than 50% transparent to me, and > an incrementally decreasing transparency doesn't look linear to me. > Is that to do with the technology or human visual perception? > > 2/ How confident can I be that the visual effect of incrementally > decreasing transparency will be equivalent across machines and OSs? > I understand this is comparing Win 2000 and later with OS X. Is > there anything I need to watch out for? One of your inconsistencies between computers and users is the monitor settings (gamma, temperature, calibration) (cathode ray tube, low-cost LCD, old cathode ray tube, expensive LCD) Most users leave them set the same as 'out of the box' and graphic artists calibrate to different color spaces, regardless of OS. Of course, there are parts of some operating systems that try to optimize the monitor for the benefit of the user. (for details about color space settings read the Photoshop pdf manual on the science of setting monitors) Another factor is the observer. Some see colors and contrast differently, and then others don't have good close vision (and out-of-date correction). I learned this in an office where some users could not see certain colors well, so we had to find a good font/background color combinations on some database layouts. As far as the Rev blendlevel, I would be surprised if it had any scientific color space, gamut, or LAB calculations that related to human perception. I have only seen transparency calculated as a linear distance between 0 and 255, as in Photoshop. This is to say, the calculation is linear, not the human perception. You probably need to 1) calibrate the monitors on some computers running different OSes/monitors, 2) set the transparency+background of a test pattern (like they do in TV broadcasting), 3) then build a curve that gets you the 'human linear' transparency values. Do one according to your eye, then see if others agree with you. I know there is a significant body of work out there for the printing industry, but you may have to dig to find anything for your particular effect. my 2 cents Jim Ault Las Vegas _______________________________________________ use-revolution mailing list use-revolution@lists.runrev.com Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution