Stereograms

Sort of random, I know, but I'm running out of time this morning, and entry ideas aren't flowing.

I remember when you couldn't walk into a bookstore or poster shop without seeing stereogram images everywhere. Magic Eye images. Those pictures full of seemingly random noise that, when viewed properly resolve into 3D images. I loved those! The fad ended years ago, I guess, but stereograms are still around.

I remember the first time I managed to see the hidden image. I'd been working at it for at least 15 minutes, trying desperately to resolve the advice I was getting from people who could see the image into a practical approach to seeing it myself. Finally, like a revelation moment, the image appeared. I have no memory of what the image was, but it was pretty shocking when it finally resolved.

Here's my approach to finding the hidden images. Let your eyes go double vision while staring at the picture. It will go blurry and doubled. Let the two separate images you're seeing start to move independently. Let them stray further and further from each other. The trick is to lock them back together into a 3D image while keeping them off-kilter. (This seems simple in my head, but describing it is really difficult. ) Really what you have to do is go double vision and then wait. Eventually your eyes will notice the 3D pattern and naturally lock in on it. Here's a link to an image you can practice on. It's a 3D butterfly. Very easily resolvable. If you can't see it right away, keep trying. It's worth it.

http://www.easystereogrambuilder.com/Browser.aspx?currentimageid=1104