1.  How do those "Magic Eye" posters work?
 

Magic Eye . . . Seeing in 3D

Most of us have probably seen Magic Eye pictures, or pictures where something "pops out." This is 3D viewing, and anyone with 2 eyes is able to do it. Technically, 3D viewing is when a person experiences stereoscopic vision and binocular depth perception while looking at a 3D picture with both eyes. Stereoscopic vision and binocular depth perception are defined below:

stereoscopic vision – views from 2 eyes combine in the brain to produce the perception of a three-dimensional image

binocular depth perception – a skill that permits a person to judge distances between objects and perceive 3D space

When looking at a television or a computer monitor, one uses normal viewing. Normal viewing does not allow for seeing 3D. In order to look at 3D images, you must use one of the following methods:

  1. parallel method (parallel viewing) – This is known as the Magic Eye method. The lines of sight of the 2 eyes move outward, or away from the nose, and meet at a point beyond the image. The eye muscles that control the focusing lens are relaxed.
  2. cross-eyed method (cross-viewing) – The lines of sight of the 2 eyes cross and meet in front of the 3D image. The eye muscles that control the focusing lens are contracted.
There are many types of 3D images: To learn more about 3D viewing or to look at Magic Eye picture, go to the following web sites or simply use keyword "Magic Eye."

http://www.vision3d.com

National Stereoscopic Association
 

Prepared by:

Hayes Ferguson
Kelli Harper
Michelle Jelley
Carey Workman

UNC
Intro to Cognitive Psychology
(Psyc 20, Section 6)





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