Monocular Cues

Monocular Cues

When perceiving an object from a distance, we rely on visual cues to help is analyze the object. Some of these visual cues can only be used with one eye, called monocular cues. Monocular cues are visual cues relating to depth or distance, which can be used by one eye alone.

 

Relative Size:
If two objects that are about the same size are at different distances (one closer and one farther away), the object that is closer will be perceived as larger. In one of the below pictures, Liv and Nick are about the same height and they are at different distances. Liv is perceived to be taller because she is a shorter distance away from the camera than Nick.

 

Texture Gradient:

A texture gradient monocular cue can be defined as when you are looking at a object that extends into the distance, the texture becomes less apparent the further it goes into the distance. In the other picture below, you can see a ground level view of the floor. You can see the detail and texture of the floor up close but as the distance increases, it becomes harder and harder to see the texture until eventually it all blurs and there is no texture present in the distance.