The term "law of continuation" refers to the principle in visual perception that lines tend to be seen as continuing, rather than abruptly changing direction. It is spelled /lɔːr əv kənˌtɪnjuˈeɪʃən/, with the stress on the second syllable of "continuation" and the schwa sound in the first syllable of "law" and the second syllable of "of". The "tion" ending is also pronounced with a shun sound, as in "action" or "nation". This spelling follows the conventions of English phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
The law of continuation, also known as the law of good continuation, is a fundamental principle in Gestalt psychology that describes how individuals perceive visual stimuli. According to this law, when looking at a complex arrangement of lines and shapes, people tend to mentally connect the elements that form smooth, continuous paths or lines rather than seeing them as disparate and disconnected parts.
The law of continuation suggests that the human visual system is inclined to identify and organize visual elements into coherent and flowing patterns. This principle arises from the brain's effort to simplify the visual scene and create meaningful perceptions out of the sensory input it receives.
In essence, the law states that our eyes naturally follow the path that provides the smoothest and most effortless continuation. The brain fills in any missing information between the elements, allowing us to see complete and uninterrupted shapes or lines. Consequently, elements that are positioned in a way that implies a continuation guide our eyes along the intended path.
This principle has significant implications in various fields such as design, advertising, and art. Artists and designers often make use of the law of continuation to create aesthetically pleasing compositions and guide the viewer's attention towards specific focal points. Advertisers also leverage this principle to direct the viewer's gaze towards certain elements or to create visual flow within their advertisements.