Final answer:
Soft edges indicate visual distance between parent colors, helping to create depth in art. Alongside this, color temperature plays a role, with warm colors advancing and cool colors receding to enhance the perception of distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of edges that indicate visual distance between parent colors are soft edges. Soft edges help create a sense of depth and distance in a composition by gently transitioning between colors, which mimics the way objects appear softer and less distinct as they recede into the distance in the real world. This contrasts with hard edges, which create a sharper delineation between colors and forms, often resulting in a flatter or more immediate visual presence.
Color temperature is also critical in depicting visual depth. By pairing warm colors like red, orange, and yellow with cool colors such as blue, green, and violet, artists can create the illusion of space and form within their works. Warm colors tend to come forward in an artwork, while cool colors recede, further contributing to the sense of depth.
Understanding the principles of how edge quality and color temperature influence the perception of space is crucial for both artists and art appreciators. The way colors transition through soft edges and the deliberate use of warm and cool colors can manipulate how we perceive distance and form within a two-dimensional work of art.