A LINKAGE OF CHROMATIC AND ACHROMATIC CUES IN NEON COLOR EFFECT

Neon color effect consists of two phenomenal aspects of brightness/darkness enhancement and color bleeding. The spectral properties of these two aspects were determined by threshold measurements, using the Ehrenstein pattern configuration made up of elements of different colors. The results indicate that the Ehrenstein brightness illusion is mediated by the achromatic system and the neon bleeding effect by the opponent-color system, and that both have to be present for the neon color effect to occur. It is suggested that the contribution of the chromatic system to shape analysis is contingent upon the presence of luminance cues, implying strong linkage between luminance and color processing in form perception.