Is there any research or consideration on how gradients effects legibility?

[chris480]

Was thinking about a small comment from a Microsoft design talk I attended years ago, in which the speaker mentioned slight background gradients on elements improved perceived contrast for text. Examples of visual illusions were used to demonstrate changes in contrast.

Checker board classic

[Myndex]

Hi @chris480,

The checkerboard illusion is one of my favorites because it so well demonstrates the importance of local adaptation.

In this version both yellow dots are identical:

As for gradients, there's been a lot of study about things like simultaneous contrast, But not as much regarding text, sounds like something I need to add to my research list.

Also See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767278/#!po=36.6667

Also Google:

• Bartleson-Breneman Effect
• Mach Bands
• Simultaneous contrast

[chris480]

Thanks for the reply. I'll dig into the paper things around the terms you listed, but on a cursory glance I haven't come across anything as clear cut as the algorithms presented in APCA. Maybe there is an opportunity here to codify something. If it doesn't exist, I know some interested parties that could throw resources towards doing a study.

[Myndex]

If it doesn't exist, I know some interested parties that could throw resources towards doing a study.

As this is my current research focus, I'd be very interested in discussing this further. Can you email me at perceptex@myndex.com ?

[Myndex]

This should be in discussions, moving...