Like I said before, our mind often analyzes a two dimensional picture and translates it to a mental “3D image”. Often with ambiguous illustrations, individuals can see different mental views of objects because there are various logical images that can occur. Take this picture for example:
How do you view this image? Do you see an “open book” or a “pointed roof”?
Either way is correct because those are both logical ways to reconstruct this 2D figure.
Another Illusion like the one above is:
View the hexagon. Withing a few moments your brain with construct a figure with a little more depth-a cube. Can you see it? The cube can switch orientations as well. The different cube views are below.
More complicated versions of this type of illusion are:
( illusion taken from Optical Illusion Magic by Michael DiSpezio)
Instead of viewing it as interlocking circles, your brain used your prior knowledge and related the image into something with depth. Instead of remaining flat and 2D your brain makes the image look like a 3D slinky or coil. Which part is the inside of the coil? Which one is the outside?
In actuality, BOTH sides can act as
the inside and outside. To show this I filled in one part of the coil.
Note: the shaded part is the outside of the coil.
As you can see, you can view the coil in two different ways.
Your Optical Illusionist,
Amanda
the one with the coil confused me at first, but then when you showed the gradients, I got it all cleared up. thanks!