---
title: Seeing Isn’t Believing: How Visual Illusions Distort Color Selection
tags: 
author: [Nakamura Laboratory (Meiji University)](https://docswell.com/user/nkmr-lab)
site: [Docswell](https://www.docswell.com/)
thumbnail: https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/LJ31D5R1E5.jpg?width=480
description: Seeing Isn’t Believing: How Visual Illusions Distort Color Selection by Nakamura Laboratory (Meiji University)
published: December 01, 25
canonical: https://docswell.com/s/nkmr-lab/KEY3GE-2025-12-01-094252
---
# Page. 1

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/LJ31D5R1E5.jpg)

Seeing Isn’t Believing: How Visual
Illusions Distort Color Selection
Sari Kobayashi, Satoshi Nakamura
Meiji University
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# Page. 2

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/8JDXPDYK7G.jpg)

Have you ever had an experience like this?
https://nurie-park.com/nurie/2515


# Page. 3

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/VEPPNX63E8.jpg)

Visual Illusions Caused by Color Selection Interfaces


# Page. 4

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/27V2KL3N7Q.jpg)

Differences in Color Impressions Across Color Selection Interfaces
When visual illusions occur during color selection, they lead to
・Unintended changes in the impression of the design
・Require users to make additional adjustments
Designing interfaces with an understanding of
visual illusions is important.
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# Page. 5

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/5JGRQX357L.jpg)

Purpose
Examine how color selection illusions arise
under different interface conditions
Effect of Background Brightness on Color Selection
Effect of Display Size on Color Selection
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# Page. 6

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/47QVK85LEP.jpg)

Purpose
Examine how color selection illusions arise
under different interface conditions
Effect of Background Brightness on Color Selection
Effect of Display Size on Color Selection
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# Page. 7

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/KE4MP29571.jpg)

Experiment 1 :Effect of Background Brightness
Perceived brightness of a color changes
depending on the brightness of the area surrounding it.
A color surrounded by a dark area is
perceived as brighter.
A color surrounded by a bright area is
perceived as darker.
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# Page. 8

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/L7189MK2JG.jpg)

Experiment 1 :Effect of Background Brightness
How the selected color changed when the surrounding color varied？
Task： Match a target color
Target
The area surrounding the selected
Color has a different background
color from that of the target.
Participants： 20
Trials： 180（ for each person）
Selected Color
Surrounding Color
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# Page. 9

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/G7WZQ3D272.jpg)

Experiment 1 :Effect of Background Brightness
Brightness13
Brightness25
Brightness38
Brightness63
Brightness75
Brightness88
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# Page. 10

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/4JZ1WVG4E3.jpg)

Result: Differences from the Target Brightness
Dark surrounding colors
→ Darker than targets
Bright surrounding colors
→ Brighter than targets
When the surrounding color of an object differs from the
palette’s background, a brightness illusion occurs.
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# Page. 11

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/YE6LG5YG7V.jpg)

Investigations
Effect of Achromatic Background Brightness on Color Selection
Effect of Display Size on Color Selection
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# Page. 12

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/GE51VYGXJ4.jpg)

Experiment 2: Effect of Display Size
How the color selected changed when its display size varied
Task： Match a target color
？
Target
The selected color changed in size.
Participants ： 20
Trials ： 440 （ for each person ）
Selected Color
Surrounding Color
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# Page. 13

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/97213GYQER.jpg)

Experiment 2: Effect of Display Size
5 Size Conditions
30px
90px
150px
210px
270px
300px
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# Page. 14

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/DJYZ1VGYEM.jpg)

Result: Differences from the Target Brightness
Inaccuracy was largest for the smallest size condition and
smallest for the largest size condition.
Low Accuracy（ BAD）
High Accuracy（ GOOD）
The smaller the displayed area of the selected color,
the greater the differences .
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# Page. 15

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/V7N32MGR78.jpg)

Discussion on Color Selection Interfaces and Visual Illusions
When the surrounding color of an object differs from
the palette’s background, a brightness illusion occurs.
The smaller the displayed area of the
selected color, the greater the
difference s.
What kind of impact does it have on
actual color-selection interfaces?
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# Page. 16

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/YJ991NWZJ3.jpg)

What kind of impact does it have on actual color-selection interfaces?
Using bright or dark background colors in color selection
interfaces can lead to users unintentionally selecting colors.
Dark Mode
The dark background causes users to
choose colors darker than intended.
https://nurie-park.com/nurie/2515
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# Page. 17

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/GJ894KRYED.jpg)

What kind of impact does it have on actual color-selection interfaces?
Smaller display areas for colors may hinder accurate color
selection.
Color tiles should not be displayed
too small in the interface design.
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# Page. 18

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/LJLW6ZK97R.jpg)

The color selection interface that takes visual illusions into account
Transparent Background
To preview how the selected color will look
directly on the canvas.
Large Color Tile
Limit the number of color hues displayed
at one time.
color-category tiles
Implemented within PowerPoint
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# Page. 19

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/47M95V2VJW.jpg)

Conclusion
We hope…
Color selection interfaces designed with visual illusions in mind will
help users choose colors more accurately and confidently.
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# Page. 20

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/P7RG32MWJ9.jpg)

Summary
Background
Visual illusions caused by color selection interfaces
make color selection difficult.
Purpose
Examine how color selection illusions arise
under different interface conditions.
Method
Modify how colors are displayed in the interface.
Results
The interface’s background and small color display area
may hinder color selection.
Latest study
A color selection interface that takes visual illusions
into account was implemented in PowerPoint.
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