In one embodiment, techniques are provided for improving perception of representations of subsurface features (e.g., virtual paint markings) in augmented reality. An input image of a terrain surface is accessed. An augmentation stencil image aligned with the input image is created and represented utilizing HSL color space. The input image is converted to the HSL color space. The technique creates and displays an augmented image that, for each pixel that falls outside of the representation subsurface features, has pixel values based on a hue value, a saturation value and a lightness value of the input image and for each pixel that coincides with the representation subsurface features has pixel values based on a hue value and a saturation value of the augmentation stencil image and a lightness value based on the input image.