Fog

Distant forms show softer edges and color contrast, making visibility appear shorter.

Visual traits

• reduced visibility
• softened distant edges
• lowered contrast

Expected changes

• Distant subjects are more likely to become less visible.
• Background edges and contrast are more likely to soften.

Definition

Fog is a weather condition in which suspended water droplets reduce visibility and depth contrast. It does not determine time of day, cold, rain, mystery, danger, or location.

In more detail

It concerns an atmospheric condition in which distant forms become less visible and background edges or colors soften. It is distinct from smoke, cloud, rainfall, and an image-blur effect.

Includes

• A condition in which suspended water droplets reduce visibility and contrast.

Excludes

• Smoke or cloud
• Rainfall
• Lens-based or image-processing blur
• A particular time of day, cold condition, danger, or location

What this does not imply

• A particular time of day
• cold
• rain
• mystery
• danger
• or location

Variability

Fog density, extent, and the degree of reduced visibility can be adjusted separately.

Usage

• Use it as weather that reduces visibility and depth contrast.

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify time of day, temperature, rain, or location separately only when needed.

Typical uses

• Add fog-reduced visibility to a scene containing people, animals, interiors, exteriors, or landscape.

Possible failure modes

• It reads as smoke or cloud.
• The entire image becomes merely blurred.
• It becomes fixed as danger or a mysterious narrative.