Can you see the hidden 3D images in these Magic Eye pictures?
It's not easy and may take a little while to adjust your eyes.
HINT: Three distanced rows
Image © User:Fisdof9 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: '3D'
Image © User:PolarBot / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: 'Leyla'
Image © Nevit Dilmen / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: 'Tigers in foreground'
Image © User:Fred Hsu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: 'Rectangles at left'
Image © User:Fred Hsu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: 'Spaced out tiger rows'
Image © User:Fred Hsu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: 'Patterned shark'
Image © User:Fred Hsu / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: 'Dotted shark'
Image © User:Xiong Chiamiov / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
HINT: '3D board'
Image 3Dimka~commonswiki, Copyrighted free use, via Wikimedia Commons
Magic Eye pictures, when viewed the right way, give the illusion of a three-dimensional (3D) image. These pictures are called autostereograms because they do not need any special equipment in order to see them (such as 3D glasses or a stereoscope).
Many people find these three-dimensional images difficult to see, and often it is necessary to look at the picture for some time before the image will appear.
If your two eyes have very different diopters, or if one eye is very dominant, then you may have particular trouble seeing the image. In fact some vision therapists use Magic Eye pictures to correct certain visual impairments.
If you are having trouble seeing the shark, then try gently crossing your eyes to different degrees while focussing behind the screen. It is best if your head is about 12-24 inches from the screen, but you can also try moving slightly closer or further away.
Warning: For health and safety reasons, you should not spend too long staring at the screen.
For more information on autostereograms, see this Wikipedia article.