Effects of Light, Rotation, and Texture on Errors in the Estimated Length of a Three-Dimensional Object in a Two-Dimensional Display

This study investigated the effects of light type (spot, directional, and point), forward-rotated stimulus angle (20°, 45°, and 70°), and surface texture (wood, metal, transparent glass, dark brown leather, and translucent plastic) on errors in the estimated vertical diameter of a three-dimensional object. Twenty female and 12 male Taiwanese college students, ages 18–22 years, participated in the current study. Participants were asked to judge the vertical diameter of an elliptical hole within a square plate that was displayed on an LCD monitor. Analysis indicated that the errors in estimated vertical diameter for rotated angles of 20° and 45° were greater than were those for 70°. Additionally, the error of estimated vertical diameter for a rotated angle of 45° was less than was that for 20°. The surface texture also affected errors in estimated vertical diameter: transparent glass was associated with more errors than were wood and metal textures. However, light type had no effect on errors in estimated vertical diameter. These results have implications for the graphics-based design of interfaces.