RT Journal Article A1 Delogu, Franco A1 Fedorov, George A1 Belardinelli, Marta Olivetti A1 van Leeuwen, Cees T1 Perceptual preferences in depth stratification of transparent layers: Photometric and non-photometric factors JF Journal of Vision JO JOV YR 2010 DO 10.1167/10.2.19 JF Journal of Vision VO 10 IS 2 SP 19 OP 19 SN 1534-7362 AB In three experiments, using a two-alternative forced-choice task, we obtained depth judgments of displays containing transparent regions. The regions varied in lightness, size, and animation. Observers nearly always strongly preferred one certain depth ordering among the regions, even though their lightness conditions were expected to give rise to ambiguity among possible orderings. This expectation was based on the contrast polarity model, which expects ambiguity in the absence of contrast polarity reversal. The expectation was founded also on a stronger condition based on the transmittance anchoring principle, which gives preference to the largest lightness contrast between regions. In the absence of contrast polarity reversal and in conditions of balanced regional contrast, preferences were shown to depend on additional conditions of contrast between two respective regions and their overlap. Depth ordering judgment seems to be based on a critical decision threshold, independently of the coordinate system used to specify lightness. We also investigated the role of non-photometric factors such as motion and relative size, and concluded that these variables can modulate depth ordering judgments in transparency. RD 12/6/2019 UL https://doi.org/10.1167/10.2.19