Visual perception relies on various cues to interpret the three-dimensional world from two-dimensional images projected onto the retina. These cues, categorized as either monocular or binocular, allow for the estimation of depth and distance. The former requires input from only one eye, enabling depth perception even with the loss of sight in one eye or when viewing images like photographs or paintings. These visual strategies encompass several types, including relative size, texture gradient, linear perspective, aerial perspective, accommodation, motion parallax, and occlusion.
The significance of these single-eye visual strategies lies in their ubiquity and accessibility. They are essential for navigating the environment, interacting with objects, and interpreting visual information in art, design, and other visual mediums. Historically, these cues have been understood and utilized by artists for centuries to create realistic depictions of three-dimensional space on two-dimensional surfaces. Understanding them provides a framework for examining the principles of visual perception and their application in diverse fields.