Rules of Perceptual Organization: Proximity, Similarity, and Figure-Ground Perception

Proximity:

Objects that are near or 'proximate' to each other tend to be grouped together. For example, in the picture below, we group together the dots that are closest to each other.

Similarity:

We link things that are similar and treat them like a distinct group. For example, in the picture below, we group together the red roses and the white roses into two separate groups.

Figure-Ground Perception:

When we perceive a visual image, we tend to simplify it by separating it into figure and ground. The figure is the object you perceive. The ground is everything in the background. For example, in the picture below, we can see the white eagle and dot as the "figure", and the black around it is the "ground". Or we can see the black eagle and dot as the "figure" and the white around it as the "ground."

Afton Hamilton