All Science Fair Projects

Magic eye stereogram

Magic eye images or auto-stereograms are two-dimensional patterns that allow the viewers to see a three-dimensional image, if they diverge their eyes and look at 2 different points at the same time. To view the three-dimensional image the brain needs to overcome the usual eye coordination method of focus and verging.

Magic eye images are made up of patterns that are repeated horizontally. The repetitive patterns will have a slight variation in their arrangement along the horizontally repeated line. When our two eyes are made to focus on different points on the images, an illusion of depth is perceived by our brain.

To view the three dimensional image in the magic eye stereogram, the viewer will need to converge the two eyes and focus on a point that is located behind the picture or screen. This will place both of our eyes on different points or patterns in the picture and trick our brain into seeing a three dimensional image or depth. By increasing or reducing the distance between the repeating patterns, an illusion to make the area appear closer or further can be created.