A Progression for the Mind's Eye

Training the inner image

Twelve graded exercises. Advance one dimension at a time — hold, then control, then colour, then complexity. Let the image come; never force it.

How to use this

Why the black field? You reference mental images against the dark behind closed eyes. A black background matches that condition, maximises contrast, and keeps ambient light low — turn your screen brightness down too. The glowing shapes below are the quality to aim for, not a literal picture to copy.

What to look for — calibration

Vividness isn't one thing. It's brightness, sharpness and saturation — semi-independent dials. Here's each one running from "barely there" on the left to "target" on the right, so you know which dial you're turning.

Honest note: your mental image will rarely reach the far right, and that's fine. Nudging from the first cell to the second or third is already real progress — chasing photographic perfection just reintroduces strain.

— The Progression · 12 Exercises —