Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

This is why people were divided on the colour of *that* dress

To be fair, there have been stranger internet debates.

YOU MAY HAVE missed it but there was a heated debate over a dress last night.

Specifically, this dress right here.

tumblr_nkcjuq8Tdr1tnacy1o1_1280 Tumblr Tumblr

Starting out life as a Tumblr post, most people couldn’t agree on what colour it was. Some people saw a blue and black dress, others saw a gold and white dress and somehow that divided everyone into two camps.

DE poll A poll on the subject over on The Daily Edge. Daily Edge Daily Edge

So what colour is it exactly? And why were people so divided on this?

Perception

Let’s start off with the obvious problem with that photo: it’s horribly overexposed. The background (or what you can make out of it) is almost impossible to make out and everything around the dress is hidden by a bright light.

Chances are this photo was taken very quickly or it was made to focus on the dark parts of the dress, either way, the camera overcompensates for this and it messes up the composition of the photo. More importantly, it messes up how we perceive the colours of a photo.

To give a quick example, here are two photos we took in the office. The first one here shows how it looks when the camera is left to auto (This is taken just after 7:30am for those wondering).

Normal photo TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Now here are two photos with different focus points. The left photo focuses on the background (the windows) while the right photo focuses on the foreground (in this case, the chair with the black backing).

Focus one TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

It’s an extreme example but there’s a significant difference in how these colours are presented, and more importantly, just how bright they appear to be. The autofocus is to brighten up shadows so you can see the entire room but when it focuses on a dark surface, it brightens it at the expense of everything else around it.

So here’s the original compared with an edited version on the right which effectively reduces the brightness (and a small bit of RGB adjustment using Darkroom).

Dress original and new

It’s clearer now, but the reason why some see it as white and gold relates to how we perceive colours. As a quick example, this optical illusion below called the checker shadow illusion asks what colour squares A and B are.

800px-Grey_square_optical_illusion Wikimedia Wikimedia

The answer is they’re both the same colour and shade. The reason we see differently is because we’re not very good at determining brightness and since we’re trying to determine the grey shades of the checks from the floor, our expectations tend to mess that up. We expect paint has sharp edges while shadows are soft, but that’s not the case here (there’s a much longer explanation here for those interested).

Here’s another diagram proving this.

Same_color_illusion_proof2 Wikimedia Wikimedia

So in short, the dress is black and blue. Now let’s never speak of this again.

(Also, if you want further detail about the science behind that image, Wired has a great piece detailing how we perceive objects and colour).

Read: The colour of this dress is driving the internet absolutely insane >

Read: Pre-binging: Everything you need to know before watching the new House of Cards >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
131 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Fennelly
    Favourite Tom Fennelly
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:40 PM

    RTE 1 Good evening and here is the news. Only six or seven people were shot in Dublin this evening but sources say it has nothing to do with the main gangs that are shooting each other. As soon as the smoke clears we will bring you further updates!

    139
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:07 PM

    You forgot the reassuring soundbite full of jargon from francis the sycophantic social worker..

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Original Dodgy Boy
    Favourite Original Dodgy Boy
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:22 PM

    Seems like more of a punishment shooting than anything else 3 in the arm one in the leg.

    135
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Original Dodgy Boy
    Favourite Original Dodgy Boy
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:23 PM

    Or the other way round lol

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Assel Dannourah
    Favourite Assel Dannourah
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:25 PM

    punishment? you think he was a bold boy?

    26
    See 10 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzie Sunshine
    Favourite Suzie Sunshine
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:30 PM

    Either that or the shooter has a very bad aim . Maybe it was his first time …

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Assel Dannourah
    Favourite Assel Dannourah
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:31 PM

    they are blooding new talent these days

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:59 PM

    Assel

    Do you know know what a punishment shooting means?

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Deane
    Favourite Brian Deane
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:08 PM

    Dublin 2016 = lawless to the point where lawlessness has now become normalized.

    Take a bow Frances, Acting Minister for Chaos and Lawlessness.

    127
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Assel Dannourah
    Favourite Assel Dannourah
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:34 PM

    are you threatening me Nick?

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:38 PM

    LOL……

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fintin Stack
    Favourite Fintin Stack
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:41 PM

    @Assel, If you are going to troll the Journal, at least learn to read and write at a reasonable standard of English. God Bless you, Father Stack

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:42 PM

    Brian…give poor francis a break…she knows that behind every assassin..every killer,every thug,gunman,hitman,psychopath,drug dealer…lies a vulnerable individual.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jamie McCormack
    Favourite Jamie McCormack
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 12:43 AM

    Well if it is a so-called punishment shooting, carried out in Clondalkin, then it would probably the CIRA. And that would mean that so-called dissidents were out on the streets shooting people, and given all the connotations of the Kinihan-Hutch feud, any such shooting should be regarded as related.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute liam lawless
    Favourite liam lawless
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 1:09 AM

    Leave my name out of this please

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Life in no motion
    Favourite Life in no motion
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:47 PM

    Ironically in Frances’ constituency. Everyone was all over it during the election. A baby almost killed in Finglas. Cowards gunning down an innocent man in town, mistaken identity… And last week no less than 2 shootings in the same night and now this.

    The Juan Kerr’s in government should hang their heads in shame. They only gave a a fook about being re-elected

    Where’s the armed Garda patrol and checkpoints now? I didn’t see a single checkpoint at all this bank holiday. Couldn’t do (say) enough a few weeks back

    I didn’t vote for you Frances. Your a disgrace, letting the criminals shoot the place out of it

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:16 PM

    Ah poor francis…she totally wants to conduct an intervention with these vulnerable groups of armed men and young people…perhaps a family welfare conference or two…perhaps approach the “issue” from a strenghts based perspective with a view to a wrap around care package for the most vulnerable gang members and targetted support – bespoke of course – for the remainder.Gardai operating in the area will of course wear tracksuits…to do otherwise may offend the the vulnerable gang members sensetivities and possibly upset them.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzie Sunshine
    Favourite Suzie Sunshine
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:29 PM

    You forgot about the Nike trainers , dead giveaway if the Gardai are not wearing them !

    29
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:35 PM

    Ah Sis…easy knowing im not from a social work background…duffer and armani tracksuits i know about…didnt think of the de rigeur Nike’s…thankfully francis is “across this” and will have vouchers to hand…

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Suzie Sunshine
    Favourite Suzie Sunshine
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:51 PM

    Bro , you’re right I’m sure she’ll have every angle covered … she’s usually on top of things .

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Rusk
    Favourite Brian Rusk
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:38 PM

    Shocking so two gangs killing each other and now random shootings time for a zero tolerance policy on organised crime and use of guns in crime more eru on streets open back up the stations and get more gaurds on the beat enough is enough

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Waters
    Favourite Dan Waters
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:29 PM

    we need a story about Halawa hurry up …. forget this Irish stuff make us feel guilty.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 12:59 AM

    Shooting in Dublin !!
    As long as it isn’t in Dartry or Milltown where the Defence barristers and Judges live then there is no need to worry.

    64
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lukey
    Favourite Lukey
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 4:04 PM

    no shooting in dublin 6 so do you think people get shot for no apparent reason at all?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mike johnston
    Favourite mike johnston
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:25 PM

    Worse it’s getting instead of better!

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Smyth
    Favourite Peter Smyth
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:55 PM

    Thanks Yoda.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Strong silent type
    Favourite Strong silent type
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 2:43 AM

    Whatever he did it almost cost him an arm and a leg.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute meerkat
    Favourite meerkat
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 11:08 PM

    Elmo must be back again

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute von
    Favourite von
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 7:52 AM

    Francis is a male and Frances is a female for all the people who seem to get mixed up, only saying.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DubKid
    Favourite DubKid
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:23 PM

    Hope he wasn’t a Leicester City fan

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Mcloughlin
    Favourite Mark Mcloughlin
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:36 PM

    Chat shit get banged!

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Corcoran
    Favourite Andrew Corcoran
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:52 PM

    Shit shot, bang bang

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Redforever
    Favourite Redforever
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 9:01 AM

    Victim known by the authorities???

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dominick Lodola
    Favourite Dominick Lodola
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:27 PM

    Think he was a spurs fan.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dan Waters
    Favourite Dan Waters
    Report
    May 2nd 2016, 10:43 PM

    gang bang …..

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stuart Coleman
    Favourite Stuart Coleman
    Report
    May 3rd 2016, 1:27 PM

    here

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds