Magic Eye
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Magic Eye is a series of books published by N.E. Thing Enterprises (Renamed in 1996 to Magic Eye Inc.). The books feature autostereograms, which allow people to see 3D images by focusing on 2D patterns. The viewer must diverge their eyes in order to see a hidden 3-dimensional image within the pattern.
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 which allows colorful patterns to be used in creating the final images.
The first book, "Magic Eye: the 3D Guide" was released in 1993 and became a national bestseller. It was soon followed by sequels which were also extremely popular, and the three books spent a total of 34 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. Several other books and videos have been released since then, and Magic Eye stereograms have been featured on postcards, mousepads, lunch boxes, and even neckties.
Magic Eye stereograms are also featured in a comic syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate which appears weekly in many newspapers around the world and features a stereogram with a hidden image for readers to discover.
Magic Eye images have also been used by children and adults for science and other purposes.
"Seeing" the 3D objects
Warning: Viewing pictures in this way on a CRT monitor may harm your eyes! Do not look from very close distance to the screen.
To "see" the 3D objects put the picture about 40 cm from your eyes and try focus somewhere about 10-15 cm behind the picture, and relax in this position. You should "see" the 3D objects shortly afterwards (up to 1 minute).
People with amblyopia cannot see the 3D objects.
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External links
- Magic Eye website (http://www.magiceye.com)