FIGURE 3.15 The Gestalt Principles of Organization (a) The law of similarity is the tendency to perceive objects of a similar size, shape, or color as a unit or figure. Thus, you perceive rows of tomatoes, avocados, lemons, and so forth rather than a mixed array of fruits and vegetables.

(b) The law of closure is the tendency to fill in the gaps in an incomplete image. Thus, you perceive the fence rails as continuous straight lines even though the image is interrupted by the cowboy boots.

(c) The law of good continuation is the tendency to group elements that appear to follow in the same direction as a single unit or figure. Thus, you tend to see the straight and curved sections of the Chicago L-tracks as separate but continuous units.

(d) The law of proximity is the tendency to perceive objects that are close to one another as a single unit. Thus, you perceive these three puffins as two distinct units—one puffin standing apart from a puffin pair—rather than as a single group of three puffins.

Rolf Hicker/All Canada Photos/age fotostock