Gestalt principles (Gestalt laws) are a concept from Gestalt psychology, which was developed in the first half of the 20th century by Wertheimer (1923). Gestalt principles can be seen as motifs that guide the interpretation of perceptions. The motifs result from the human constitution and vary from person to person.
The following are examples, loosely based on Wertheimer (1923):
1. Principle of Proximity: The circles are closely positioned. Each pair of circles seems to belong together.
2. Principle of Similarity: Objects with similar characteristics appear to belong together.
3. Principle of Good Gestalt: Objects are perceived as representatives of ideal patterns. In the example, one sees a circle. However, it is actually an ellipse.
4. Principle of Common Region: Objects enclosed within a frame appear to belong together.
5. Principle of Good Continuation: Continuous curves intersecting are perceived as separate from each other.
6. Principle of Closure: Closed shapes are perceived as units. In the example, a large rectangle appears in the foreground and a small one in the background. It could actually be three rectangles.
7. Principle of Connectedness: Objects that are connected to each other appear to belong together.
Source: Drawings loosely based on WERTHEIMER.
The basic idea of Gestalt psychology is not limited to static perceptions. For example, the sequence of images in a flipbook is perceived as a continuous change.
References
Wertheimer, Max (1923): „Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt“. In: Psychologische Forschung. Zeitschrift für Psychologie und ihre Grenzwissenschaften. Bd. 4. Koffka, K. [u.a.]. Berlin: Springer. S. 301-350
Drawings adapted from: Rikowski, S. (2015): Die Entwicklung computerbasierter Lehrmodelle zur Vermittlung technischer Bildungsinhalte. Göttingen: Cuvillier.