What they are is a regular pattern, but, the pattern is applied to a shape with a slight offset. So once the brain resolves the regular pattern, it can spot that the pattern is broken along the outline of the shape that is also covered in the same repeating pattern. The amount of offset to the break in the pattern is then understood as the shape, which appears to "stand off" from the background.
A simplified version would illustrate this clearly - if I wrapped square card in checkerboard patterned plastic wrap and held it up against a background of the same checker pattern, if I lined it up just right, you would not see the card, but if I moved it out of alignment you would begin to perceive the card is a separate object. This is all these pictures are, except the pattern is more difficult to detect, it looks like a random pattern but it is really a regular pattern that takes a while to process, but once your brain does process the pattern the object becomes obvious. You can then imagine that a 3D object would distort the pattern further which your brain could also interpret to give depth to the object.
So to "see" the object you have to give your brain time to spot the repeating pattern, the best way to do that is to look around the outer parts of the image carefully, the process is unconscious, so you will feel like nothing is happening, but you have to maintain focus on examining the pattern until it just happens and out pops the image once your brain does the work. It often takes patience and focus.
Hypnosis is similar, although I do not trust any stage hypnotist enough to voluntarily silence my inner analyst and follow instructions without question, they are slightly different modalities when there is a third party.
These used to be in the Sunday comics when we were younger.
They were approximately 8 inches wide and 4" tall. You put your nose close to the paper looking straight ahead, and as you slowly back your head away from the random mosaic, a 3D image suddenly pops into your eyes / head. 🤷♂️
You must make the image large on your computer monitor. Then you cross your eyes until two similar parts of the image coincide. Then allow your eyes to focus while still keeping them crossed. This will easily allow you to see something, although the depth will be reversed. In other words, the one I looked at to check out looked like a flat area of colored stars with areas cut out and sunk in. They are usually fairly simple shapes. You're not going to see a photograph of something else.
What am I looking at/for? I just see random pattern graphics. Nothing moving or no special images.
What they are is a regular pattern, but, the pattern is applied to a shape with a slight offset. So once the brain resolves the regular pattern, it can spot that the pattern is broken along the outline of the shape that is also covered in the same repeating pattern. The amount of offset to the break in the pattern is then understood as the shape, which appears to "stand off" from the background.
A simplified version would illustrate this clearly - if I wrapped square card in checkerboard patterned plastic wrap and held it up against a background of the same checker pattern, if I lined it up just right, you would not see the card, but if I moved it out of alignment you would begin to perceive the card is a separate object. This is all these pictures are, except the pattern is more difficult to detect, it looks like a random pattern but it is really a regular pattern that takes a while to process, but once your brain does process the pattern the object becomes obvious. You can then imagine that a 3D object would distort the pattern further which your brain could also interpret to give depth to the object.
So to "see" the object you have to give your brain time to spot the repeating pattern, the best way to do that is to look around the outer parts of the image carefully, the process is unconscious, so you will feel like nothing is happening, but you have to maintain focus on examining the pattern until it just happens and out pops the image once your brain does the work. It often takes patience and focus.
Hypnosis is similar, although I do not trust any stage hypnotist enough to voluntarily silence my inner analyst and follow instructions without question, they are slightly different modalities when there is a third party.
👆 That was an AWESOME explanation. I had no idea how they worked.
Thanks Fren.
Right! It’s fantastic being able to have conversation with smart people. This place is full of them. Great explanation.
Thanks for the extensive explanation.
I usually focus about 1 inch beyond the picture, it seems to make the 3D object jump out faster.
These used to be in the Sunday comics when we were younger.
They were approximately 8 inches wide and 4" tall. You put your nose close to the paper looking straight ahead, and as you slowly back your head away from the random mosaic, a 3D image suddenly pops into your eyes / head. 🤷♂️
As hard as I tried, they never worked for me.
Oh no! It works for me! Damn, who is going to unhypnotize me? Sh*t! All I see are commies trying to take over our country from within right now!
5-4-3-2-1 JUMP, JUMP, JUMP, DO THE TWIST. Now count forward 1-2-3-4-5 clap your hands.
Thanks! I think it worked! Woof! Woof!
Hmm…I don’t remember that. But then the Washington post was doing a higher level of mind fucking.
Oh, those things. Never worked for me either.
You must make the image large on your computer monitor. Then you cross your eyes until two similar parts of the image coincide. Then allow your eyes to focus while still keeping them crossed. This will easily allow you to see something, although the depth will be reversed. In other words, the one I looked at to check out looked like a flat area of colored stars with areas cut out and sunk in. They are usually fairly simple shapes. You're not going to see a photograph of something else.
I was always told as a kid to "get close to the image and go crosseyed, then pull back" then the image appears.
I found it absolutely fascinating as a kid.