When I was taught to read xrays 30 years ago, we did approixmately the same thing. You look at the film up close looking for specific things, then you stand back a few feet and take your eyes out of focus--many times this is how you spot masses or lesions.
I do the same thing with fabric. I lay it out in approximate sizes to what I am going to use or just the bolts edges arranged in what I think is right. Then I step back several feet and unfocus my eyes.