M1 - Explain persistence of vision

Unit 31 Computer animation
Task 3, M1 - Explain persistence of vision

Persistence of vision is an effect that the eye gives the brain where it seems to keep an image after seeing one for around 0.4 seconds. This would mean that the things we see in the present are essentially a blend of things we have seen a fraction of a second ago.

This theory that we can see things 0.4 seconds after they have gone is used in movies and animation. The still images when played together at a fast speed like 24 frames per second the eye will keep the first image while the second is played so it will give the illusion of fluid movement or animation even though they are all still images.

Before computer animation there were toys and tools that people used which gave the persistence of vision effect where it seemed to show flowing fluid movement.

This is a video of a Phenakistiscope disk which is an old tool which was used to show animation. With the use of persistence of vision the images seem to move as the disk spins.