Google Earth 3D
Google's Earth service creates the illusion of depth and three dimensional space using many different techniques. Linear perspective is perhaps the most obvious and useful tool, however this is all done using software, because the original pictures come mostly from satellite, such as when viewing Google's maps site. The lack of aerial perspective, or the fact that the contrast and color saturation stay uniform even when comparing objects in the horizon to those close up, gives an unnatural appearance, and makes the image look odd, like there is no atmosphere. Texture gradient is also used, with more details on objects close to the view point, however, even this application is limited, because in this case the effect is distinctly put into levels of close up, to middle, to far away, limiting it's effectiveness. Relative size in the buildings in the foreground compared to the distance is utilized effectively. Also, familiar size in objects such as the cars on the bridge gives the viewer a better idea of the scale of the objects they are looking at. Overall, it is impressive that through software, these images were created. Without the tools described, the images would be flat and confusing to the observer.
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