How to watch stereo images: instructions for beginners. Stereo images for the eyes

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Practically every person on earth has an amazing ability to see a three-dimensional image in a flat picture. This ability is manifested through binocular vision, which must be periodically trained. This can be done using stereo images. They used to be very popular, but now not everyone knows how to watch stereo pictures.

Stereo pictures - what is it?

A stereo image is a flat picture in which you can see a three-dimensional image with a certain eye focus. This amazing visual effect is achieved thanks to the peculiarity of human vision.

It was discovered back in 1836. It was then that the first trial stereo image appeared, which consisted of two small pictures separately for the left and right eyes. They were located at a distance of 6.5 cm from each other, which is equal to the average distance between twohuman eyes.

How does it work?

Man looks at the world with two eyes. Each of them sees things and objects from their own angle. But the brain, receiving two different images, combines them into a single whole. It is this feature that underlies the creation of stereo images.

A stereo image is an image consisting of repeating, almost identical fragments. When processing them, the brain incorrectly connects the points of incidence of the gaze and the angle at which a person looks at the image. As a result, a kind of optical illusion is obtained, in which a flat picture turns into a 3D image.

Moreover, the faster a person learns how to watch stereo images, the easier it will be for him to perceive them in the future. But for the development of binary vision, constant training for the eyes is needed.

Types of stereo images

Before answering the question of how to learn how to watch stereo images, you need to familiarize yourself with their classification. The fact is that different images require different viewing techniques, and some even require special devices.

Types of stereo images:

Double

Doublestereo images are the first pictures with a stereo effect. To see what is hidden on them, you just need to connect them.

Two-color

Such pictures are taken using various light filters. The most commonly used filters are red, blue and green. To see the three-dimensional image on them, you need to wear special glasses.

Multi-element

Multi-element stereo images are most often used for eye training. They are represented by a flat image, consisting of many small similar elements.

Stereograms based on random dots or textures

Unlike dual stereography, random point stereograms consist of 1 image.

Stereograms based on random text characters

They can be created manually in a regular text editor or automatically in a special generator. Such images consist of regular repeating text characters such as "/", "", """ etc.

All of these types belong to "true" and autostereography. However, there is also a "pseudosterocopy", which also allows you to create a visual effect of a three-dimensional image. For example, all the same GIF-animation, for which you do not need to know how to learn how to look at stereo images. Since the volumetric image can be seen even with monocular vision.

Features of autostereography

If a person does not know how to watch stereo images, he will see only a lot of unrelatedelements. Stereo images carry only three-dimensional information. They do not have the information about brightness and color that is familiar to photographs. Therefore, the same image can be generated into different flat images - with different fragments, colors and contrast.

In fact, stereo images for the eyes are a signal to the brain about the need to decode the information they contain. Therefore, they can be attributed to visual information only indirectly, since without proper perception they do not carry any data in themselves. However, about 70% of people in the world can perceive three-dimensional images on a flat picture. Therefore, even those who know how to properly view stereo images for the eyes may simply not have this ability. Although if you put in the right amount of effort, you can train your brain to properly process information and see hidden patterns.

How to watch stereo pictures for beginners?

There are several ways to view stereo images for beginners. And the pictures for each of them are different. Therefore, if the first time you did not manage to see the hidden picture, it is possible that you simply used the wrong way to view the image.

Methods for viewing stereo images:

• Parallel.
• Crossed.

How to watch stereo images correctly? For children, this task is easier. The fact is that the adult brain gets used to looking and perceiving things based on past experience. The perception of the child in this regard is more flexible. Therefore, those who viewed stereograms in childhood,after a couple of exercises, they can easily repeat this in adulthood.

Parallel method

To view a hidden drawing in a parallel way, you need to take the picture in your hands (if possible) and focus your eyes not on it, but on the point located behind it. In this case, the lines of sight of different eyes should run parallel. That is, you need to try to look as if through the picture.

It's very difficult to look at an object in such an unusual way the first time. To “tune” vision, you need to defocus your eyes. Then you need to bring the picture close to your face and begin to slowly, slowly move it away. In this case, you need to try to maintain the adjusted focus of the eyes. It will likely take several attempts to clearly see the hidden pattern.

However, there are convex stereo images, but how to look at concave ones? To make the convex become concave, and vice versa, you also need to focus on a point behind the image. However, the lines of sight must intersect. To make it easier to do this, you can imagine that you are looking at the same picture, but only from the other side.

Stereo image cross-view method

The second way to watch stereo images for beginners is a little different from the previous one. In it, the gaze should be focused not behind the image, but in front of it - at a point that is in the middle between the picture and the eyes.

Many people consider this method more difficult, because in fact you need toabstract from the stereogram and look in front of it. To do this, you need to place the picture from the face at arm's length. Then, about 25-30 cm from the tip of the nose, you need to place a pencil (or any other object) to focus. In this position, you need to try so that both the stereo image and the pencil are seen sharply. None of the objects should “blur”, otherwise the drawing will not be visible. If done right, the cross-view method will teach you how to watch dual stereo images once and for all.

Other ways to view stereo images

The following methods are also divided into parallel and cross-view groups. Some of them will be useful to those who are looking for how to watch stereo images on a computer, others will be useful to those who could not achieve good results even in the classic version of stereograms.

Parallel view technique:

1. Print and position the picture 20-25 cm away from a wall or other flat flat surface. Move away from her at the same distance. Now you need to focus on the wall behind the picture.
2. Take clear glass or cellophane (film). Superimpose it on a stereo image and concentrate your eyes on the objects that are reflected in it.
3. Bring the picture as close to your face as possible. Fix your gaze. After that, slowly move the image to a distance of 20-25 cm from the face without changing the focus point.

Cross-Scan Method:

1. Between the monitor screen and the face you need to place the tip of the penor a pencil. The eye must be focused on it, but the sharpness of the stereo image must not be lost.
2. On a piece of film, glass or transparent plastic, you need to draw a dot and place it between the stereo image and the face. The distance from the stereogram to the face is 50-60 cm, from the face to the film - 25-30 cm. The point should be located exactly in the center, since the eye should focus on it.

Eye training exercise

Stereo pictures are unusual for the eyes, so some people cannot see the three-dimensional image without training. For training, you need to take a mirror. Looking at your reflection, you need to look into your eyes. After 10-15 seconds, you need to smoothly look at the mirror. This exercise should be repeated several times.

After a series of repetitions, it will become clear that the mirror is a stereo image, and the reflection is exactly the point on which you need to focus your eyes for parallel viewing. With a cross, everything will turn out the other way around. A mirror is a focus point, a reflection is a stereo image.

The benefits of stereo imaging

Leaving aside the fact that viewing stereograms is interesting and exciting, you can find some more useful facts about this activity. For example:

• Eye training to help maintain visual acuity.
• Positive effect on blood circulation.
• Relieve tension in the eye muscles.
• Improvement of the accommodation apparatus.

If there are malfunctionsvisual apparatus (myopia, astigmatism, etc.), ophthalmologists highly recommend using stereo images to exercise the eyes. In addition, it will be useful for those people who spend a lot of time looking at the monitor screen.

Is stereo images harmful?

Some people think that looking at stereo images puts a lot of strain on the eyes. However, it is not. On the contrary, with a constant change of focus, the eye muscles seem to train, relieving accumulated tension.

The harm associated with viewing stereo images can only be done when viewing them on an antique monitor based on the use of a cathode ray tube. Their harmfulness has long been proven, so it is better to get rid of such equipment altogether. But the printed stereo images will only benefit. On the contrary, they should be stocked up in order not only to have fun, but also to prevent visual impairment.