Principles of Camouflage

Dr. Timothy ONeill

1
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

"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.

2
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

Basic assumptions
Science based
Focused on operational requirements

Evaluated on performance

3
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

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.

4
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

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.
5
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

blending

countershading

ruption

6
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

Camouflage science: Embracing vision science

PSYCHOPHYSICS/
SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY

CHEMISTRY
DYES/COATINGS/TEXTILES

BIOPHYSICS
VISUAL PERCEPTION

OPTICS

VISUAL
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY

BIOMECHANICS

HYPERSPECTROMETRY

7
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

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
8
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

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

9
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

Contrast match
Isoluminance

Excessive contrast

10
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

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
11
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

Camouflage science: Pattern flow

Foreshortened view/texture gradient

suggests lateral flow.

Some environments
suggests vertical flow.

12
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

Camouflage science: Pattern texture

LOW PASS

HIGH PASS
PERCEIVED IMAGE
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED

13

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.
14
Approved for public release (U10-714)

UNCLASSIFIED