Editing Ambiguous image (section)

==Gestalt grouping rules==
[[File:Kanizsa triangle.svg|thumb|upright|"Kanizsa Triangle". These spatially separate fragments give the impression of illusory contours (also known as modal completion) of a triangle.]]

In mid-level vision, the visual system utilizes a set of heuristic methods, called [[Gestalt grouping rules]], to quickly identify a basic perception of an object that helps to resolve an ambiguity.<ref name="wimmer"/> This allows perception to be fast and easy by observing patterns and familiar images rather than a slow process of identifying each part of a group. This aids in resolving ambiguous images because the visual system will accept small variations in the pattern and still perceive the pattern as a whole. The Gestalt grouping rules are the result of the experience of the visual system. Once a pattern is perceived frequently, it is stored in memory and can be perceived again easily without the requirement of examining the entire object again.<ref name="Wolfe"/> For example, when looking at a chess board, we perceive a checker pattern and not a set of alternating black and white squares.

===Good continuation===
The principle of good continuation provides the visual system a basis for identifying continuing edges. This means that when a set of lines is perceived, there is a tendency for a line to continue in one direction. This allows the visual system to identify the edges of a complex image by identifying points where lines cross. For example, two lines crossed in an "X" shape will be perceived as two lines travelling diagonally rather than two lines changing direction to form "V" shapes opposite to each other. An example of an ambiguous image would be two curving lines intersecting at a point. This junction would be perceived the same way as the "X", where the intersection is seen as the lines crossing rather than turning away from each other. Illusions of good continuation are often used by magicians to trick audiences.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Bamhart | first1 = A.S. | s2cid = 8016846 | year = 2010 | title = The exploitation of gestalt principles by magicians | journal = Perception | volume = 39 | issue = 9| pages = 1286–1289 | doi = 10.1068/p6766 | pmid = 21125955 }}</ref>

===Similarity===
The rule of similarity states that images that are similar to each other can be grouped together as being the same type of object or part of the same object. Therefore, the more similar two images or objects are, the more likely it will be that they can be grouped together. For example, two squares among many circles will be grouped together. They can vary in similarity of colour, size, orientation and other properties, but will ultimately be grouped together with varying degrees of membership.<ref name="Wolfe"/>

===Proximity, common region, and connectedness===
[[File:Gestalt proximity.svg|upright=.8|thumb|left|Law of Proximity]]
The grouping property of ''proximity (Gestalt)'' is the spatial distance between two objects. The closer two objects are, the more likely they belong to the same group. This perception can be ambiguous without the person perceiving it as ambiguous. For example, two objects with varying distances and orientations from the viewer may appear to be proximal to each other, while a third object may be closer to one of the other objects but appear farther.

Objects occupying a common region on the image appear to already be members of the same group. This can include unique spatial location, such as two objects occupying a distinct region of space outside of their group's own. Objects can have close proximity but appear as though part of a distinct group through various visual aids such as a threshold of colours separating the two objects.

Additionally, objects can be visually connected in ways such as drawing a line going from each object. These similar but hierarchical rules suggest that some Gestalt rules can override other rules.<ref name="Wolfe"/>