What aspect distinguishes implied texture from actual texture?

Implied texture relies on vision, while actual texture involves touch. Implied texture refers to the illusion of a texture that is created within a two-dimensional artwork through techniques such as shading, patterning, and brushwork. Artists can suggest the appearance of textures like roughness, smoothness, or softness using visual cues, allowing viewers to perceive a sense of texture without physically experiencing it through touch.

On the other hand, actual texture pertains to the tangible quality of a surface that can be felt and engaged with physically. These are the textures found in three-dimensional works or in materials that have a specific surface quality, such as the roughness of a sculpture or the smoothness of a painted canvas.

The distinction lies in the sensory experience: implied texture engages the viewer's sense of sight through visual representation, whereas actual texture engages the sense of touch. This understanding helps in analyzing artworks and appreciating the techniques artists use to create the illusion of textures in their work.