The term spatial quality comes from visual art, where artists use different styles to achieve an effect they want to convey. For instance, using very smooth lines is considered having a softer or more gentle style. Lines that are very sharp and detailed are considered hard edged or solid. A person with a soft edge may also refer to themselves as having a natural look.

There are several types of spatial qualities in digital images. Some examples include thin line-up effects, such as those found in geometric shapes like squares and circles; long vertical streaks, called horizon stripes; and blurry backgrounds, referred to as outof-focus areas.

All of these effects add depth to an image by drawing your eye into the picture. They help make the photograph seem larger than it actually is, creating an illusion of space. Technically, some people say that a background element has vignette which means it gets darker as it gets farther away from you.

This article will go over some easy ways to add basic spatial qualities to your photographs. You do not need to know how to create beautiful photos to try this! It is simple enough for anyone to get the same results.

Perceived size

Perceived size is how large something seems to be to you. It depends on what your defining as “size”. Is it the diameter of the object, the length of the object, or the area of the space surrounding the object?

If we take an apple as our example object, then the perceived size of the apple can change depending on which one of these definitions you use for size.

The diameter of an apple varies by type (boyle, german) so that is usually used to define size when talking about apples. A 1 kg (2 lb.) red delicious will feel much smaller than a 2kg (4lb.) granny Smith!

Length is another way to measure size, but this changes with scale. An inch tall person would perceive a box as bigger than a foot long person even if both had the same sized room to walk around in.

Size constancy

One of the most fundamental qualities we have as humans is our perception of size. We are constantly comparing how big something is to what it should be, or what it normally looks like. This is called size constancy!

When you look at someone’s face, your brain automatically makes comparisons with other faces in order to determine their facial structure and shape.

If you were trying to identify them, your mind would not rely solely on their hair color, nose length, etc., but rather compare their overall appearance to others with whom they seem similar.

This concept applies to spatial things too! When you try to estimate the size of something, for example, a house, bed, boat, couch, or wall space, you use size constancy to come up with an answer.

Your mental calculation factors in the dimensions of the thing itself along with how much surrounding empty space there is, helping you get a more accurate estimation of its size.

Emotional effects

Another important use of spatial qualities is in creating emotional effects. When we are emotionally invested in something, it can have an effect on how we perceive other things.

For example, when you feel strong emotions for someone or something, you may find that you start to see all those signs more clearly and distinctly.

You become able to identify what these signs mean much faster than usual. This subconscious perception of signs also seems to disappear, which makes interpreting conversations easier.

These effects usually last only a few minutes, but they can have lasting consequences.

Tactile effects

A tactile effect happens when you feel an element of your design, or part of your design touch another thing. For example, if there is patterned wallpaper in a room, then watching a glass table top come into contact with that wall will create a feeling of intensity.

A very popular way to use this concept is as what we call “pattern flush”. This was used heavily back during The Bevel Graphite Era (2010-2014) of digital painting. Artists would add white space around their lines by drawing over existing patterns or creating new ones. By adding these layers, the textures coming together gave off a sense of immersion.

Another common usage for this is putting a texture on something that comes into direct contact with flesh, like fake leather furniture. An interesting looking surface puts the focus onto the texture instead of the shape, which can be appealing.