Welcome to Relativistic Quantum Reality: Virtual worlds of imaginary particles: The dreams stuff is made of:
Life, the eternal ghost in the machine...
This site is dedicated to the quest for knowledge and wisdom, through science, mathematics, philosophy,
invention, and technology. May the treasures buried herein spark the fires of imagination like the twinkling jewels
of celestial light crowning the midnight sky...
Here is one of my old, but now newly-updated stereogram programs, HIDIMG Java - Hidden Image in Java
It generates Auto-Stereograms using the Java 2 programming language.
The various command buttons are:
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Hidden: Hide the Picture as an auto-sterogram
Visible: Show the Picture as a gray-scale topographic map
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RTL: Quick 'n Dirty Right-to-Left algorithm
RTL-Inv: Quick 'n Dirty Right-to-Left algorithm, picture inverted
LTR: Quick 'n Dirty Left-to-Right
LTR-Inv: Quick 'n Dirty Left-to-Right, picture inverted
Symm1: A type of symmetric algorithm which more accurately represents the height
data
Symm2: Same algorithm with x2 oversampling - a little smoother image, usually
Symm4: Same algorithm with x4 oversampling - much smoother image, reduces the
"stairsteps" significantly
Symm8: Same algorithm with x8 oversampling - might take a while to generate
Symm16: Same algorithm with x16 oversampling - only if you need a coffee break
Symm32: Same algorithm with x32 oversampling - hey, I tried to warn you...
Symmxx-Inv: The inverted picture
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Dots,Bands,Plasma,Test: All various pattern overlays to hide the image with
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Black Hole, Cake Pan, etc.: various pictures to make into stereograms
Word: You can change the word to whatever you want and then select Word type,
short words work better
Kryptos, EllipsoidTransparent: These seem to work better with the RTL and LTR
algorithms
Technically, these are auto-stereograms or Single-Image Stereograms (SIS), as
opposed to the original dual-image stereograms.
If you use the random dot overlay patterns, they are known as SIRDS -
Single-Image, Random Dot, Stereograms.
Auto-Stereograms are created using special algorithms that change the
structure of an overlaying image according to the topographic information of the
underlying image. The idea is to use a repeating pattern, with slight
modifications where there is to be perceived height or depth. This is sometimes
called the "wall-paper effect".
The principle can be understood with the following procedure.
Look at a distant object while holding 1 finger in front of your face.
You should see 1 "solid" image of the background, and 2
"partially transparent" fingers.
Now, without moving, change your visual focus to the finger.
The 2 "partial" fingers will merge.
You should now see 1 "solid" finger in front of a double
"partially transparent" background.
Return your focus to the background.
Now, try to concentrate on just one finger while still focusing on the
background.
With sufficient concentration, you can vary the "transparent-ness" of
one finger with respect to the other.
By practicing this change of focus and eye info %, you can get to where
stereograms just jump out at you with very little effort.
Unfortunately, there are some people who physically cannot see these kinds of
sterograms:
If you have one eye that is significantly stronger than the other (one eye sends
~70%+ of the information), or if you have astigmatism, you might not be able to
see them.
The effect requires two eyes of approximately equal strength (meaning that each
eye is sending ~50% of the information).
You must hold your head level with the picture, and "look through" the
picture, as if you are looking at something more distant.
To those who can't see them -- don't worry, it's just a big conspiracy anyway,
try my fractal program instead. ;-)
To those who can -- have fun!
If you know of a good site that could be added, or have a comment about this site, or just
want to say 'hi', please email John.
