Moire color or pattern creates a visual series with the obligatory imposition of similar patterns relative to each other. For example, when two identical (usually transparent) patterns on a flat or curved surface overlap with offset relative to each other.
These can be straight lines that take the form of grids or dots that overlap each other with rotation or displacement.
And how will it be in French
The term comes from the French word moiré - moire, also called moira. It means ripples or waves, stripes, which is manifested when examining an object at different angles of incidence of light. Also known as moire is the type of fabric.
Traditionally, the moire color, or rather the pattern, was associated with the type of fabric, as a rule, with high-quality silk. Now ripples or waves can be seen on cotton and synthetic fiber fabrics.
The figure shows the moire effect, what color can be - it doesn’t matter.
Structuring or thin construction
In addition to manifestation on tissues, moire patterns are often an undesirable artifact of images obtained using digital visualization methods and computer graphics. For example, a similar visual effect appears when scanning a fuzzy image through a transparent checkered pattern.
The photo above shows a moire pattern. The lines can represent fibers in silk in the form of ripples or waves, they can be drawn on paper or appear on a computer screen. To the question of why this happens:
Non-linear interaction of systems of multidirectional lines creates a real and visible moire color or pattern of approximately parallel dark and light stripes superimposed on each other with an offset.
The photo below is a vivid example of the visualization of waves.
- If the lines are curved or not quite parallel, more complex linear moirae are created, as in the photo of the wing of a parrot.
- Patterns that reveal complex shapes or sequences of characters embedded in one of the layers (in the form of periodically repeating compressed shapes) usually produce very interesting images that are specially created using moira groups.
- One of the most important properties of all types of moire is their ability to enlarge or stretch the tiny shapes of lines, stripes, dots along one or both of the axes of tension, which creates stunning 2D effects.
A general 2D example of magnification and distortion of the main figure can be seen if one considers a chain link through another chain link of an identical design. The subtle design of the flickering ripples is clearly visible even from a distance.
Moire color - what is it? A photo of the garage door shows a pattern - the effect of the displacement of construction lines relative to each other. The gate is a two-plane structure with metal strips connected to the offset.
Defect or feature: moire color in the visual arts
It is quite difficult to imitate color moira using modern technologies, while still achieving high-quality images.
The best color gamut gives images of fabrics or finely designed fencing.
Black and white moire patterns are more malleable for experimentation. For example, Italian designer and designer Andrea Minini began an experiment in the construction of animal images with a graphic biased effect.
- In order to obtain complex shapes and depths, he begins to draw an object with a small number of basic lines.
- Using Adobe Illustrator, Minini deepens the picture in different directions, creating amazingly textured moire patterns.
- Each illustration is unique and interesting for its intense expressiveness.
Moire color and shape, photo by Andrea Minini.
Waves on the posters
But usually moira is considered a defect or an artifact, especially, for example, in the printing of full-color images, which involve the imposition of grayscale screens.
These are rectangular dot patterns, more precisely, four of them, printed in blue, yellow, purple and black. It is impossible to get rid of spotty spots completely, but under favorable conditions the overall image is quite “dense”, and the spatial frequency of the moire is so high that it is not noticeable.
In fact, in the visual arts, the term means an overly noticeable distortion pattern, that is, the deliberate use of waves and lines. True, the appearance of moire is not always predictable. Everything is done by trial and error, so sometimes stunning images with an unusual result are obtained, as in the picture of Brian Thomas. Moiré with discoloration is shown in the photo below.
