Background

The Gestalt psychologists, especially Max Wertheimer, developed a number of “laws” that predict how perceptual grouping occurs under a variety of circumstances (Wertheimer, 1923/1938). Technically, in sciences, laws are predictions that are true. In reality, these laws are better classified as principles, which are true most of the time. However, the term law has stuck with these principles because they were established so long ago. So we will continue to refer to them as laws, even though technically they are not scientific laws.

The Law of Good Continuation means that figures with edges that are smooth are more likely seen as continuous than edges that have abrupt or sharp angles.

Use this activity to explore how the Law of Good Continuation operates.

Instructions

Full Screen Mode

To see the illustration in full screen, which is recommended, press the Full Screen button, which appears at the top of the page.

Illustration Tab

Settings

Below is a list of the ways that you can alter the illustration. The settings include the following:

Vertical Sep: control the degree of vertical separation that breaks the Law of Good Continuation.
----Vertical Pos: move the lines vertically in a way that keeps the Law of Good Continuation.
Horizontal Sep: control the degree of horizontal separation that breaks the Law of Good Continuation.
----Horz Pos: move the lines horizontally in a way that keeps the Law of Good Continuation.
Angle: adjust the angle at the intersection to change how good continuation is perceived.
Dashed Line: select this to make the lines dashed. Deselect to make the lines continuous.
Color: change the color of the right half of the image.

Reset

Pressing this button restores the settings to their default values.

Try these settings to explore the Gestalt Law of Good Continuation.





Dashed Line

The Law of Good Continuation is that smooth changes are preferred to abrupt changes. If you see a curved X-like figure, you are seeing the figure according to good continuation.

Violate that law by using the Horizontal or Vertical Sep sliders, or change the color of the right half of the figure to see how jarring the perception is.

The Vert and Horz Pos sliders maintain the law, and moving those makes the figure move in a much more predictable manner. Make the lines dashed and see what happens to your perception.

Proceed to Quiz