Research - Exercise #5

Stereograms and Autostereograms

Stereograms are any kind of image that can be viewed with enhanced depth using stereoscopic vision. They are usually two visually similar 2D images set side by side horizontally and invite the viewer to perceive depth between them, allowing the third 3D image to emerge.

In the past, specialized stereoscopic equipment was required to view these images, but there are ways to view them using just human eyes. Called freeviewing, this can be accomplished by either defocusing your eyes or crossing them until the third image appears. Using one or the other can "flip" the perception of depth around (e.g. things that are pushed further in the one video will now be pushed closer in the other).

Here is an interactive stereogram online, using one of Salvador Dali's paintings The Chair: http://www.mcarts.com/theAge/dali.htm

Autostereograms, also called "magic eye pictures", are more commonly found stereograms, as they are composed of a single 2D image with a seemingly repeated visual pattern that when viewed with perceived depth yields a 3D image. The "auto" part of the name means that the process is done automatically, without requiring a stereoscope to view.

Autostereograms can also be videos, such as the music video "Black is Good" by Young Rival:

Above is the defocusing version, below is the cross-eyed version:

"Stereoscopy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscopy>.

Norio Nagano. シンゴジラ in 3D. Digital image. Instagram. N.p., 3 Sept. 2016. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ6lh95gj5V/>.

"Stereoscopic Vision : Dali." Stereoscopic Vision : Dali. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <http://www.mcarts.com/theAge/dali.htm>.


Priester, Gary W. Lighthouse. Digital image. BrainBashers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <https://www.brainbashers.com/showstereo.asp?29>.

Black Is Good. Perf. Young Rival. Young Rival - Black Is Good [Official] (Autostereogram Video). YouTube, 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AKtp3XHn38>.

Black Is Good. Perf. Young Rival. Young Rival - Black Is Good (Autostereogram Video: Crossed-Eye Version). YouTube, 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUO5al57-1s>.