Onelargeprawn
How cool is this? By using a simple yet nifty visual effect, GIF creators are able to bring out eye-popping 3D qualities from 2D animated GIFs. Two vertical stripes are added to the GIF, and when a moving object blocks these lines, our brains are tricked into thinking that the object is coming out of the image.
Have a look at some of these wonderful “3D” GIFs after the jump.
I love optical illusions, considering I pretty much live in one. From my Lamborghini Murciélago which is really a VW Beetle to the corner office that is basically a cubicle that time forgot, I view many things from an odd perspective.
And here’s a little illusion for you – which one of these Audi R8s do you think is the largest? Think about it and find the answer after the jump.
I experienced an illusion today that turned out to be very real. I’ve had an unopened packet of Peanut Butter M&Ms on my desk for ages now. This morning I decided to crack it open only to realise that it had already been opened and 3/4 of the contents had been eaten! The perpetrator sneakily placed the opened corner of the packet under my flip file to hide any visible evidence of tampering. When I catch them, I’ll have an illusion ready – my foot firmly lodged up their ass. But I digress…
The Best Visual Illusion of the Year contest is now in its 5th year and strives to use big words to explain itself:
Visual illusions are those perceptual experiences that do not match the physical reality. Our perception of the outside world is generated indirectly by brain mechanisms, and so all visual perception is illusory to some extent. The study of visual illusions is therefore of critical importance to the understanding of the basic mechanisms of sensory perception, as well as to cure many diseases of the visual system.
And in this year’s contest, The Illusion of Sex by Richard Russell at Harvard University, USA scooped third prize.
In the image above, the two faces are perceived as male and female even though both are different versions of the same androgynous face. Apparently it demonstrates that contrast is a cue for perceiving the sex of a face – the face with the greater contrast appears feminine, and one with the lesser contrast appears masculine.
Did you notice a difference? Let us know in the comments.
BONUS: This is one of the oddest illusions you’re likely to see – HardTimes.
Trompe-l’œil, or “trick the eye” is an art technique that has existed as far back as Greek and Roman times, and involves creating incredibly lifelike 3D scenes on flat surfaces. And Californian-born artist John Pugh creates such trompe-l’œil murals on the sides of buildings. Here are three of my favourites – click to embiggen.
This is an Egyptian style mural adorns a wall in Los Gatos, California.
This earthquake scene located in Los Gatos was created following a genuine earthquake in 1989.
This mural in Honolulu tricked the fire crews into thinking a child was about to get crushed underneath a tidal wave.
More of Pugh’s murals can be found at Damn Cool Pics.