TUTORIAL
Parallel viewing

illustration

Eye gymnastics to see autostereograms

To discover the 3D image hidden in autostereograms, a simple eye gymnastics and a little practice are all you need. This exercise is even recommended by orthoptists. It is called parallel viewing.

The animation below shows what should happen:

  1. The two images are displayed side by side.
  2. Look straight ahead, as if the screen did not exist, or as if the screen were a mirror in which you were looking at your reflection.
  3. The two images will appear doubled, and you will fuse the one in the center.
Parallel viewing

Put it into practice!

So, ready to test your parallel viewing?
Practice on the two squares below.
In the central 3D image, the white circle will appear to pop out in relation to the dark square.

Go ahead! Relax, let your gaze float far behind the screen and let the central image come to you.

Parallel viewing

View the autostereogram of La vache qui rit

Start with the eye gymnastics at the top of the image, on the cheese portions. When they are sharp, you will see them in 3D.

Now look at the grass behind the portions. Then slowly move your gaze down over the rest of the image.

You will then discover the hidden 3D image... BRAVO!

Autostéréogramme de La Vache Qui Rit

There is another form of eye gymnastics, known as cross-eyed viewing, very useful for viewing stereoscopic pairs in 3D.