PATTERNS CONSPICUOUS IN NATURE. 



395 



With plain objects the circle is the most visible shape which 

 they can have ; so with patterns, the circle gives rise to the 

 greatest blendine- distance. 



Patterns composed of only two components requn-e special 

 consideration, as they have an important bearing on the subject 

 of conspicuous patterns, as will appear later. It has been seen 

 that the larger the pattern the greater the blending distance ; it 

 follows that, in order to give an object a pattern which will 

 blend at the greatest distance, onl}^ two components must be 

 used, thus making it as large as possible. To farther increase 

 the blending distance the relative tones of the two components 

 must be as far removed as possible, and at least one of the 

 components must have as concentrated an area as possible. 



Text-fio^ure 8. 



7 ''X/ r^^ 



1-6. Patterns in which one component has the most concentrated shape, namely a 

 circle, and is surrounded by the other component. 7-9. Patterns in which 

 neither component has the most concentrated shape. 



If the object be a triangle, a square, or a circle, then these 

 conditions would be fulfilled in figs. 1-6 of text-fig. 8. These 

 patterns would blend at a greater distance than would those 

 shown in figs. T-9. 



It has been seen that a third factor affects the blending 

 distance, namely, the relative proportion of the components. 



If a series of circular objects be made, as in text-fig. 9, and be 



