Maybe you have heard of 3D$Stereograms. They are pictures which"just look like a massive jumble of%coloured dots at the first glance(and!the second, and the third, etc.).
However, once you have learnt a#special technique, you will be able$to see these pictures in 3D. You can%still see all the jumble of dots, but$the dots make up recognisable shapes$which stand out from the background. If you have one or more of these#pictures, and you cannot see the 3D$effect, here is a simple guide to be
able to do so:
$ 1. Find a window(double glazed or%a single pane will work), or sheet of
glass.% 2. Use blu-tac or whichever method#you choose to stick your Stereogram$to one side of the window(make it on!the outside if you are not on the
ground floor).% 3. Stand about one metre away from
the window, and look at the Stereogram so that the window is%between your eyes and the Stereogram.$ 4. Instead of looking directly at
the Stereogram, look at your
reflection in the window.
5. Keep looking at your#reflection, and relax your eyes and%mind(this stage may take about 2 or 3 minutes).# 6. When you feel that you aren't%looking at anything in particular any%more, look at different points on the!picture. The 3D image should snap
into place.# 7. If you can't see the 3D image%first time, persevere with it, and it$will come to you in the end. It also
helps if you know what you are#supposed to be seeing. The title of#the Stereogram should help you with
that.$ 8. It is very easy to lose the 3D#image, and find yourself looking at"the original jumble of dots again,$but have another go, and try to hold%it for longer this time. Once you are"an accomplished Stereogram viewer,%you can find the image again straight
away after you have lost it.% 9. It is a bit of a pain having to!stick your Stereogram to a window%every time you want to look at it, so!I recommend that you also try and#learn the non-reflection technique,"which may take a couple of days to$master. With the first technique, it"is easier, because your reflection
causes you to focus behind the%Stereogram, which is what you need to$do to see it in 3D. However, with no reflection, it becomes harder to
focus behind it, so you have to
concentrate harder. Just try to"remember what your eyes did in the$reflection technique, and try and do$the same with your eyes on this one.%As I said, it may be a couple of days%before you can do this with ease, but
it is worth it." 9. The other option is to frame"your Stereogram so that there is a"sheet of glass in front of it, and$you can use the reflection technique"at any time, but this might be too%expensive for some. I saw some framed%Stereograms selling for
45 each at a$local art gallery, when the pictures"themselves cost only a fraction of
that price." So there you have it, a (quite)#simple guide to viewing Stereograms
properly. I hope you have many#pleasurable hours marvelling at the%wondrous 3D images on your Stereogram"(Well, slightly wondrous, anyway).
Jaz X.
%(You'll find a stereogram on the next
page of this article. It was $created with a Public Domain program
called RDS which will take a%standard IFFimage and convert it to a
stereogram equivilent with the#suffix .RDS. Seeing a stereogram on
your monitor like this should #hopefully allow you to focus behind!it with greater ease. To help you
even further, it is the cover!picture of this issue. -P.V.F.C.)
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