Effect of surface properties on the visual impression of building stone finishing: Part 1 basic examination on the depth impression of stone surface

Depth impression is one of the expressions which gives high quality and good appearance of materials. But there is no scale for evaluating it. In this paper, the effect of surface properties on the depth impression of building stone finishing was investigated. Sensory tests were performed using natural stone specimens which varied in stone type, surface finishing method and surface pattern. The visual depth of glossy and glittered surfaces was further analyzed by performing sensory tests using seven grades of polished black granite. Physical values of luminance factor were measured by multi spectral imaging. the relationship between it and the results of sensory test was considered. It was cleared that the depth impression was related to the L^* and physical gloss(60°). Depth impression, metriclightness, visual expensiveness and massiveness were related to the luminance factor. As variation in luminance factor and surface color were even, an observer felt depth.