Depth and Distance

Your eyes judge distance based on the size of objects and where the objects are positioned. For example, if you don’t know the size of two objects, you may see one as smaller because it is farther away. In reality, the objects are the same size. An easy way to think about this is by using train tracks. Train tracks appear to get smaller as they get farther away, but as you move along them, you see they are the same. Lines that appear to come together in the distance make you have a distorted perception of distance.

Box B appears smaller, but in reality they are the same size.

Shadow and shading also help you to see distance or depth. For example, if you look at a picture of a ball with no shadow or light, it will look flat. On the other hand if you put light on one side of it, and draw the shadow the light would cast, the ball now looks solid.