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Title

Graphics Gallery: Random-Dot Stereograms
Author

D. Bar-Natan
Journal / Anthology

The Mathematica Journal
Year: 1991
Volume: 1
Issue: 3
Page range: 69-75
Contents

How does it work?; So how do we make an RDS?
Description

It's a random-dot stereogram (RDS). It looks like a random mess, but in fact it's a three-dimensional view of a landscape from above. To see it, stare straight through the page, as if the journal you are holding weren't there, and let your eyes relax until the two guides (little squares) at the bottom of the figure appear to separate and become four. Focus your eyes at some place far behind the figure, and make two of the four images coincide so that you now see exactly three guides. Now raise your eyes slowly up to the main part of the figure, without refocusing them. With luck, you'll see an almost palpable three-dimensional image - a hill right at the center, a circular valley surrounding it, and a circular hill surrounding the valley, all seen from above.
Subjects

*Arts and Humanities > Visual Art
*Mathematics > Geometry
*Mathematics > Recreational Mathematics
*Social Science > Perception
URL

http://www.mathematica-journal.com/issue/v1i3/