Principles of Camouflage

Principles of Camouflage
Dr. Timothy O’Neill
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"An expert is a man who has made all the
mistakes which can be made in a narrow field.”
-- Niels Bohr
The ideas and principles described in this
briefing are descriptive, not prescriptive; there
are no points for following them, no penalties for
ignoring them. Only rigorously measured
performance matters.
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Basic assumptions
Science based
Focused on operational requirements
Evaluated on performance
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Camouflage science: What we know
Existing camouflage principles based on vision
science.
Principles have evolved as the science
advances.
Principles are provided for information, not as
design requirements.
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Camouflage science: Observations from nature
Gerald and Abbot Thayer provided the “classic”
camouflage attributes from naturalistic observation:
Mimicry: Looking like something else
Countershading: Defeating the shadow signature.
Ruption: Breaking up shape signatures (target
geometry)
Blending*: counteracting outlines and boundaries.
* A property, not the evaluation method described elsewhere.
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blending
countershading
ruption
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Camouflage science: Embracing vision science
PSYCHOPHYSICS/
SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY
CHEMISTRY
DYES/COATINGS/TEXTILES
BIOPHYSICS
VISUAL PERCEPTION
OPTICS
VISUAL
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
BIOMECHANICS
HYPERSPECTROMETRY
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Camouflage science: Camouflage properties
Physical attributes of visual camouflage:
Color attributes
Chromatic match (includes hyperspectral)
Contrast (overall, intrapattern)
Geometric attributes
Texture match
Shape disruption
Movement masking
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Camouflage science: Color properties
Color attributes of visual camouflage:
Chromatic (visual spectrum) color challenges
Overgeneralization (focus on where a soldier will
hide)
Contrast problems (extreme contrast, isoluminance)
Metamers
Hyperspectral challenges
Effects of dye and substrate properties
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Contrast match
Isoluminance
Excessive contrast
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Camouflage science: Pattern geometry
The geometric properties of visual camouflage:
Background match:
Texture (spatial frequency power spectrum)
Flow (horizontal, vertical, nondirectional)
The target: Shape disruption (boundary/symmetry)
Challenges:
Overgeneralization
Loss of pattern through isoluminance
Overly fine texture
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Camouflage science: Pattern flow
Foreshortened view/texture gradient
suggests lateral flow.
Some environments
suggests vertical flow.
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Camouflage science: Pattern texture
LOW PASS
HIGH PASS
PERCEIVED IMAGE
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Camouflage science: Hints
Ideas to consider in finding a solution (based on bitter
experience):
Focus on the “tactical microenvironment” -- no
camouflage can hide a soldier everywhere.
Employ the principle of invariance: Match the
attributes that remain constant.
Consider the geometry of human form and
biomechanical invariants.
Consider the consequences of compromise.
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