The subject is presented with one of approximately 10 to 15 cards at a time, displaying abstractly shaped ink blots, each of which can be interpreted countless ways.
Some cards are black and white while others have color varying in hue and intensity.
After viewing the card, the subject is asked by the experimenter to state what they saw, then elaborate on it. The descriptions of the ink blots are supposedly similar to the subject's perception of the outside world, reflecting ideas familiar to them. These tests are still considered useful guides and widely applied in uncovering the personalities of students, workers, patients, etc. Professionals are trained for years on ink blot perception for the mere purpose of interpreting them. Do not attempt to interpret the test results yourself.