Stereogram Lesson!
This is a typical stereogram.
First, make sure that you’re squarely in front of the picture, not off to the side at all. Once you’ve got it centered right in front of you, notice that there are 2 dots at the bottom center of the picture. There are two ways to proceed – you can either (1) cross your eyes, or (2) let your eyes unfocus, until those two dots become three dots … not four, but exactly three dots. It may take a bit of practice. Persevere. It’s worth it.
When you can see three dots at the bottom instead of two, you’ll notice that the rest of the stereogram has come into focus.
The picture just below is what’s actually hidden in the picture above, only when you see it above, it will look more like a cone because of the shading. It takes up the entire picture from top to bottom, and all but a little bit on either edge.
And so now, my stereographically challenged friends … you have something to actually practice on! Keep practicing it until you don’t have to concentrate on it to make it happen. Once you can do it comfortably, go back to the others I’ve posted, and take a look at them with new eyes.
Before I got addicted to these, my kids used to bring home books full of them from the library. They would get all excited … “Hey look! It’s a cube!” … or “Moof! It’s a dog! Can’t you see it?” I was certain that they were making it all up … just to annoy me.
One day, I got tired of trying, and I just sat in front of one of the stereograms, with my mind wandering off into other pastures. As I sat there, I slowly realized that I was seeing an amazing three dimensional scene on the page in front of me. I nearly died from the shock! It surprised me so much that I lost the 3D picture. However, now that I knew it was there, I wasn’t going to let the darn thing get away! It took some effort to get it to come into focus again … but each time I did it, it was easier. Now, I just look at stereograms and see them right away.
I found a really nice animated one yesterday when I was looking for these examples … I’ll post it after people have had a chance to work on this “lesson.”
Good luck! :o)
March 22nd, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I cannot do this, no way. First I can not make my eyes cross and 2nd, I can’t “unfocus” and make those 2 boxes 3. no way. I give up. but then i give pretty easily – on zigsaw puzzles and crosswords and now this.
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Rdl … awww, don’t give up so quickly! I think that you’re probably trying way too hard. That’s why most people have a hard time with these – they try too hard, and because of that, they stay focused on the top layer of the picture … which is usually some sort of nonsense, like the jumble of colors above.
Look at the picture straight on, and think of going to sleep. Let your eyes begin to go hazy, as if you were thinking of dozing off.
Another trick which works for some people – try to focus on a spot that is about 1 inch BEHIND the graphic you’re looking at.
Those are all things that have worked for different people. My son can only see these if he crosses his eyes. I can only see them if I let my eyes unfocus … others, have other ways.
Vive la difference! ;o)
March 23rd, 2007 at 1:33 am
Ok…Time to post the lesson for what comes after “special needs”…I try hard Moof but it just doesn’t happen. I finally saw 4 dots but at no time did I only see 3..Are you sure this is suppose to be an easy one?
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:03 am
Moof…I figured it out. I cannot do these because they are on a computer screen. I went to Magic Eye website and printed some off. I could see everyone of them on paper. But, I have to have the paper only about 1/4 inch from my nose to see them. Any further away and I have lost the picture.
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:55 am
Cathy! Wow! Well, at least you can do them! It’s all in the focus – or lack of it, since it seems to work differently for different people.
I have 167 of those (35 megs!) on my hard drive, and I find new ones that I like enough to save all the time. If ever you want some for printing out, let me know! ;o)
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I see a cone coming toward me, and an added third square in the middle of the other two. I love these things!
March 23rd, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Ooooh, this is fun. Too bad I can’t make hide nor hair of it!
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Moof! I love these! Especially the mountains – awesome – thanks! :)
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:03 pm
hi moof! nope, can’t do it, been trying and trying, too old i think. ha ha ha ha ha….
smiles, bee
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Moof, sad to report that I am “sterogram challenged.” I did what you wrote and ended up still seeing two black dots, a snowy background, and blurry vision! :) Will just have to live vicariously through your descriptions of the wonderful things you see in them! :)
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Pattie … oooh … you’re good! *LOL* Gonna have to get you to help me show our friends how to do it! ;o)
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Dr. Deb … come on now, I know you do this. You’ve posted some serious eye benders on your site before … I remember! :o)
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SeaSpray … I’m kind of addicted to the darn things. I can’t see one – anyplace – but that I have to stop until I see what it is. It’s amazing how the 3D effect turns out in some of them …
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Empress Bee, my Red Hat sister … too old is not part of vocabulary!!! *Poke!* ;o)
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Wandering Visitor … there are other methods. You should probably do what Cathy did, and try one on paper first …
March 24th, 2007 at 3:10 am
Moof, check your logs. This is the only time that I can see dots but I feel drowsy. So Cathy’s out of the ’special needs’ but I’m definetly in. Can’t do this. :)
March 24th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
keep them coming… i love these things, and enjoy the pretty image once it’s focused. the cone looked really mesmerizing
March 24th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Tons of fun. Thanks.
March 25th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I can see the first one easily. But what is the white circle on black supposed to do? Every time I do my typical “relax my vision thing” (I can’t cross my eyes to save me), all I get is a headache for my efforts.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:20 am
I give up ! I am just “too focussed” I guess !!!!! :)
This is interesting though, when I try to cross my eyes, I get sick in my stomach. So, there is no way I am going to try this again after a full meal :)