Perspective Image

A Perspective Image is a visual image produced through a perspective process and related to a spatial object, scene, view or representation. It may be naturally formed, optically captured, graphically constructed, mathematically generated, projected, simulated or digitally displayed.

As a Perspective Product, an image is one possible outcome of perspective alongside a view, representation, model, measurement, calculation or item of spatial information.

Image as a Perspective Product

The Product level asks what a perspective process produces. One of its principal outcomes is a Perspective Image.

The image may exist on a physical surface, an optical or retinal image plane, a photographic sensor, a computer display, a projected surface or within a simulated or virtual image space.

Captured and Projected Images

The PRC framework distinguishes two fundamental directional relationships for Perspective Images.

Captured Perspective Image — formed through the Viewing or Imaging Class, where light or visual information travels from an object or scene towards an eye, camera, sensor or imaging system.
Projected Perspective Image — formed through the Projecting Class, where an image, light pattern, shadow or beam is projected forwards into or across space.

A camera and a cinema projector therefore exemplify opposite directional relationships even though both are involved with Perspective Images.

Natural and Optical Images

Perspective Images can arise naturally through optical processes. The retinal image formed by the eye is one example. Real and virtual optical images produced by lenses, mirrors and related systems provide others.

Such images can preserve, transform or reorganise information from spatial reality according to the optical conditions and geometry of the image-forming system.

Artificial and Represented Images

Artificial Perspective Images include drawings, paintings, photographs, film frames, diagrams, computer graphics, rendered scenes, simulated views and many forms of digital display.

These may reproduce aspects of ordinary visual appearance, deliberately transform them, or construct spatial relationships that could not arise through unaided natural vision.

Image, View and Representation

The terms Image, View and Representation overlap, but they describe different aspects of a Perspective Product.

View emphasises appearance relative to a viewpoint.
Image emphasises the visual result that is formed, captured, projected, generated or displayed.
Representation emphasises something that depicts or stands for a spatial reality.

A single photograph can therefore simultaneously be a Perspective Image, a Perspective View and a Perspective Representation.

Image Space and Spatial Reality

A Perspective Image establishes a relationship between spatial reality and an Image Space. Spatial objects, scenes or processes are transformed into visible image relationships according to the perspective method or system involved.

The resulting image may preserve some spatial relationships while changing others. Apparent size, apparent shape, foreshortening, overlap, vanishing relationships, colour, contrast and resolution can all depend upon the conditions under which the image is formed.

Information in a Perspective Image

A Perspective Image may contain or provide information concerning object position, size, shape, scale, orientation, arrangement, texture, colour, depth relationships, state or activity.

The information available depends upon viewpoint, projection method, field of view, image resolution, optical conditions, occlusion and other properties of the perspective system.

An image may therefore also become the source for further Perspective Products such as Measurement, Calculation and Data / Information.

Examples of Perspective Images

a retinal image;
a photograph;
a cinematographic image;
a linear perspective drawing;
a mirror image;
a microscope or telescope image;
a stereoscopic image;
a panoramic or spherical image;
a computer-generated image;
a projected cinema image;
a virtual or simulated image.