Random Per-Element Luminance Modulation for Improved Visual Tracking

Using random per-element luminance modulation can increase the visual salience of details in a range of visualizations (2D, 3D, and ND scalar, vector, and tensor fields). Although random luminance has been used in specific designs, its wide applicability isn't reflected in visualizations, perhaps because it hasn't yet been presented as a cross-cutting technique. Adding random-luminance contrast can benefit both static and animated visualizations. The article presents perceptual reasons for this technique's effectiveness. This article has two accompanying videos, at http://youtu.be/TTaSFMvBgvg and http://youtu.be/Rx1oPMTpPA4, showing animations of cones moving through a weather simulation, with and without random luminance modulation.