Topic: I want to play with your mind!

[Francois]

Today, I had a bit of time playing and decided to bring a little bit of science with a bit of fun.
On the scientific front today: Persistence of vision (a.k.a. POV).
This is a physical phenomena that has to do with our eyes. After seeing a particular color for some time, the eye tends to show the reverse colors when confronted to a neutral colored image.

To try it out, simply stare at the white dot in the center. When the image changes, you should see the full color image for a fraction of a second. Blink and it's gone showing only a B&W image...
And you can try it as many times as you like, it's perfectly safe



So, what do you think?
Hope you enjoy it!

[Mojave]

Faded color, but yeah, I see it. Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[Francois]

Actually, mine has faded colors I think because it was shot on the Blackbird...

But here's another (better) example I found elsewhere

[LT]

that is mental - and with your version, Francois, I see the colours really brightly, but only on the sweets.  It almost looks like they have been hand coloured.

IF I blink, the colours instantly go, but If I continue to stare, they fade out rather slowly.

At first, I thought it would be like one of those 3rd eye pictures.  I've never been able to see those - I still reckon they are a con.  People only claim to see them so as to be one of the pack.

[jojonas~]

oh yeah, these things are fun! I've got the second example on my computer somewhere. you beat me to it when making one!

[Mojave]

I can see the colors much better in the second one for some reason.

[astrobeck]

that is very cool, and I can see all the colors.

Now I'm off to manipulate some astro photos I have....

Thanks! 

[jojonas~]

ok, there

[Heather]

At first, I thought it would be like one of those 3rd eye pictures.  I've never been able to see those - I still reckon they are a con.  People only claim to see them so as to be one of the pack.

I thought that too for years and years and then suddenly a few months ago I tried it with a large framed poster in a museum where I could focus on a reflection of a light behind me and it WORKED and then I just practised more and more. I can do it fairly easily now and found some cool animated ones on deviantart and even magiceye 3d tetris which is really hard because if you "lose" that eye position it's hard to get it back under pressure 

On the other hand, I found my eye glasses prescription is wrong so maybe that's helping

[original_ann]

Oh wow, I completely believed I was looking at a color image... until I blinked!!!  Thanks Francois!

[Francois]

I'm happy to see it worked for you too Ann... when I first posted it, I was wondering if it would work for anyone, including colorblind people...

It's a funny process when you think it's related to the same phenomena that makes you see green rectangles for a long time after you've stared at an electronic flash and triggered it (who hasn't done that at least once by accident?).

I'm starting to wonder if there's any way to optimize them by playing with the contrast and brightness of the primary negative image...

[sapata]

Thanks for reminding me of that Francois !

I was a kid when they showed us the brazilian flag below at the college and we were all stunned by that. Works in the same way but in this case you'll get the original colours on the white space ( sorry for being a bit patriotic... )

[LT]

At first, I thought it would be like one of those 3rd eye pictures.  I've never been able to see those - I still reckon they are a con.  People only claim to see them so as to be one of the pack.

I thought that too for years and years and then suddenly a few months ago I tried it with a large framed poster in a museum where I could focus on a reflection of a light behind me and it WORKED and then I just practised more and more. I can do it fairly easily now and found some cool animated ones on deviantart and even magiceye 3d tetris which is really hard because if you "lose" that eye position it's hard to get it back under pressure 

On the other hand, I found my eye glasses prescription is wrong so maybe that's helping

Heather - it's like the Emperor's New Clothes all over again,  You're just a sheep in the herd.

It's all a lie.

[Photo_Utopia]

On a slightly different note I've always liked this illusion. Both squares A+B are the same density (take it into photoshop and check with the eyedropper if you doubt me)

[Francois]

OK, I think I'm starting to dial it in.
For this shot with the Holga, I boosted contrast to the max on photoshop for the color image.
The spot is a bit harder to find though, it's in the middle next to the stuffed animal's nose...

[Ed Wenn]

First off, this is a really cool thread (again). Great stuff, Francois & the rest of you. The tram and the building are great.

Leon: A guy I used to work with at BT spent 2 years complaining that he couldn't see "those funny pictures hidden in all the shapes" until someone mentioned that they are called stereograms.

"That'll be it then." he replied...."I've only got one eye!"

...and it was true. He had one good eye and one glass eye.

 

[Francois]

These pseudo 3D stereograms are a funny thing... ever since they were first invented, I haven't been able to see any of them!

By the way, for those who can see them and that are a bit masochistic, there's a 3D stereogram tetris out there...
http://dagobah.net/flash/download/Stereogram_Tetris_II.swf

And I still can't play it

[LT]

These pseudo 3D stereograms are a funny thing... ever since they were first invented, I haven't been able to see any of them!

you and me both Francois. But I like to think that we are akin to Neo and Morpheus. Those that 'claim' to see the pictures are stuck in the Matrix. We took the red pill. 

Ps - obviously, I'm Neo. I do have an uncanny likeness to Canoe Reeves. 

[Roger Thoms]

Very cool, showed this to my girl friend and she though so too.

Roger