Optical illusions are fascinating phenomena that can trick our brains and make us perceive things differently than they actually are. One popular type of optical illusion is the "magic eye." Magic eye images, also known as stereograms, consist of a two-dimensional pattern that, when viewed correctly, reveals a 3D image hidden within. The concept of magic eye images was first introduced in the early 1990s by a computer programmer named Tom Baccei. He collaborated with an artist named Cheri Smith to create the first commercial Magic Eye book, which became a bestseller. The magic eye effect works by exploiting a principle called stereopsis, which is the ability of our brain to perceive depth and three-dimensionality.
Magic Eye
Magic Eye is a series of books published by N.E. Thing Enterprises (renamed in 1996 to Magic Eye Inc.). The books feature autostereograms (precisely, random dot autostereograms), which allow some people to see 3D images by focusing on 2D patterns. The viewer must diverge his or her eyes in order to see a hidden three-dimensional image within the pattern. "Magic Eye" has become something of a genericized trademark, often used to refer to autostereograms of any origin. The autostereogram predates the Magic Eye series by several years. Christopher Tyler created the first black-and-white autostereograms in 1979 with the assistance of computer programmer Maureen Clarke.
Unable to find an American publisher after creating its first images in 1991, creators Tom Baccei and Cheri Smith managed to make a deal with Tenyo, a Japanese company that sells magic supplies. Tenyo published its first book in late 1991 titled Miru Miru Mega Yokunaru Magic Eye ("Your Eyesight Gets Better & Better in a Very Short Rate of Time: Magic Eye"), sending sales representatives out to street corners to demonstrate how to see the hidden image. Within a few weeks the first Japanese book became a best seller, as did the second, rushed out shortly after.
The first North American Magic Eye book, Magic Eye: A New Way of Looking at the World was released by Andrews & McMeel in 1993. Within a year it had been followed by two sequels that were also extremely popular. The three books spent a cumulative total of 73 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Dozens of other books and other products have been released since then; Magic Eye stereograms have been featured on postcards, mousepads, lunch boxes, and even neckties. Magic Eye stereograms have also been featured in a weekly newspaper comic panel syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate.
The Magic Eye images have a horizontally repeating pattern which differs slightly with each repetition, therefore giving the illusion of depth when each eye focuses on a different part of the pattern. The stereograms were created using a patented process that allows colorful patterns to be used in creating the final images.
Magic Eye stereograms have been used by orthoptists and vision therapists in the treatment of some binocular vision and accommodative disorders.
The Best ‘Magic Eye’ Stereograms Around and How to See Them
You can actually see 3D images without 3D glasses. This is called “free-viewing”. Here you can learn and experience it.
Unlike horses, human’s eyes are located side-by-side in the front of their heads. Thanks to this close side-by-side positioning, each eye takes a view of the same area from a slightly different angle. Although the two eyes have plenty in common, each eye picks up visual information the other doesn’t.
Both eyes capture their own view and the two separate images are sent on to the brain for processing. When the two images arrive simultaneously in the back of the brain, they are united into one picture by combining the two images by matching up the similarities and adding in the small differences. And those small differences between the two images add up to a big difference in the final picture! The combined image is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a three-dimensional stereo picture.
With stereo vision you see an object as solid in three spatial dimensions – width, height and depth – or x, y and z. It is the added perception of the depth dimension that makes stereo vision so rich and special.
How to view a 3D Stereogram
Normally, when we look at or read something on the computer monitor, we aim your eyes directly at the surface of the monitor, like this:
With the parallel viewing method (a.k.a. the divergence or Magic Eye method), the lines of sight of your eyes move outward toward parallel and meet in the distance at a point well beyond the image. When you parallel-view, the muscles inside your eye that control the focusing lens relax and lengthen.
Another 3D viewing methodis called cross-viewing or the cross-eyed method. You aim your eyes so that the lines of sight of your eyes cross right in front of the image. When you cross-view, the muscles inside your eye that control the focusing lens contract strongly and shorten. Just don’t try too hard!
If you’re not trained to look at stereograms, it might take you some time to be able to see 3D images quickly. But with time, you can master it. First time I’ve looked at a stereogram it took me like an hour to finally be able to focus the eyes correctly to see the 3D image.
Anyway, let’s start with the easier ones:
Can you eye-spy the shark in this Magic Eye image? Experts reveal how the fun puzzles work – and why not all people can spot the hidden 3D images
IF you’re a true 90s kid, you'll remember Magic Eye puzzles were all the rage, along with the treasured Tamagotchi.
There was always someone who claimed to see the hidden picture immediately, while everyone else was driven crossed-eyed until they just gave up and pretended they could spot it all along.
If you have good eyesight, you should be able to see the shark in this magic eye puzzle Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The 'Magic Eye' books were a hugely popular series and contained pages and pages of various patterns that would reveal a hidden image or message if you focused your eyes correctly.
They played a particularly formative part of 90s kids' childhood, because seeing a hidden message that your parents couldn’t was "da bomb!" - bear in mind there was no Snapchat back then.
View this post on InstagramThe magic eye effect works by exploiting a principle called stereopsis, which is the ability of our brain to perceive depth and three-dimensionality. Each eye sees a slightly different image, and our brain combines these two images to create a single 3D perception. Magic eye images create the illusion of depth by using a technique known as autostereograms.
What is a Magic Eye puzzle?
Magic Eye puzzles are stereograms, which are two dimensional pictures that can create three-dimensional images depending on how you look at them.
Some stereograms are designed to be viewed cross-eyed, but the ones published in the famous Magic Eye books were designed for divergent viewing.
This basically means holding the image right up to your nose so it gets blurry, then focusing as though you are looking through the image into the distance before pulling away.
Autostereograms are created by repeating a simple pattern or texture across an image. When viewed normally, these patterns appear as a flat, repetitive design. However, when you defocus your eyes or look through the image, a hidden 3D shape or scene will slowly emerge. This happens because instead of focusing on the image itself, you are focusing on a point within the image, which allows your brain to perceive the hidden 3D image. To view a magic eye image, you need to relax your eyes and let them defocus slightly. Some people find it helpful to hold the image close to their face and then slowly move it away until the hidden image appears. Others find it easier to focus on a point behind the image and then gradually bring the image into focus. It may take a few tries before you can successfully see the hidden image, but with practice, most people can master the technique. Magic eye images can depict a wide variety of objects, such as animals, landscapes, and even words or phrases. Some people find the experience of viewing these images enjoyable and relaxing, while others may find it frustrating or challenging. Regardless of your personal experience, magic eye images continue to captivate and engage people around the world. In conclusion, optical illusions like magic eye images provide a fascinating way to challenge our perception and explore the capabilities of our visual system. They are a form of visual entertainment that can amaze and surprise us with their hidden 3D images. So next time you come across a magic eye image, take a moment to relax your eyes, focus, and see if you can uncover the hidden magic within..
Reviews for "The Impact of Technology on Magic Eye Optical Illusions"
1. Emma - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Optical illusions magic eye". I found the illusions to be repetitive and dull. The images were static and lacked the wow factor I was expecting. The book also didn't provide any explanations or instructions on how to see the illusions properly. Overall, it felt like a waste of money and time.
2. John - 3 stars
"Optical illusions magic eye" didn't live up to my expectations. While some of the illusions were interesting, I found them difficult to see and had to strain my eyes for a long time. Additionally, the book lacked variety in terms of the illusions presented. It would have been better if there were more diverse and engaging images. Overall, it was just an average collection of illusions that didn't provide the magical experience I was hoping for.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I have seen better optical illusions than what was presented in "Optical illusions magic eye". The images in the book were blurry and low quality, making it difficult to appreciate the illusions. Furthermore, the book didn't offer any background information or explanations about the science behind the illusions, which left me feeling unsatisfied. I expected more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
4. David - 1 star
I regret buying "Optical illusions magic eye". The illusions were poorly executed and lacked creativity. It felt like I was looking at the same repetitive patterns over and over again. Additionally, the book did not provide any tips or guidance on how to see the illusions properly, which made the experience frustrating. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in optical illusions.