Stereograms are always backwards for me!

[Dark Jaguar]

Okay, it has come to my attention that apparently my brain is broken. I say this with full confidence that the obvious insults will be unspoken :D.

You know those funny 3D images where you cross your eyes and see a 3D shape? Well apparently I see them in reverse from everyone else. The "background" for them actually sticks out from the page and all the shapes I see are indentions in it instead of coming out. Am I doing something wrong?

[A Black Falcon]

You mean those things with the random patterns you're supposed to be able to see a picture in, or something else? I never was able to see anything in those things...

[Weltall]

I don't know how you can do them 'incorrectly'.

I can not only see them but I can see them completely at will without using any of the techniques most people have to employ. I've trained my eyes to cross, which is all that you're really doing.

[Dark Jaguar]

Well yeah but I have to focus it "just right". It's just the depth is "reversed". It's as I said, I see what others see as the background as sticking out from the image and the main object as an indentation.

ABF, bring the image like a few inches from your face, then cross your eyes completely and slowly uncross them until it appears. Works every time for me. Mind you, I can't "uncross" very well at will.

[A Black Falcon]

ABF, bring the image like a few inches from your face, then cross your eyes completely and slowly uncross them until it appears. Works every time for me. Mind you, I can't "uncross" very well at will.

I haven't tried to see one of those things in years, I don't think, but I remember trying when I was younger and never being able to see anything...

[Sacred Jellybean]

DJ: I think you're supposed to unfocus your eyes, rather than cross them. I started doing the same thing, as per instructions from an old Nintendo Power magazine, but that's technically incorrect. That's the reason your depth of perception is reversed.

[Dark Jaguar]

I can't "unfocus" though... I can either cross my eyes or instantly focus on what I'm looking at. It's automatic and I have no control over it, you know like when you see words you instantly read them?

<img src="http://diveintomark.org/public/2006/07/you-make-bunny-cry.jpg">

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah, I know I read about the various ways you're supposed to see things things, but I was just never able to get it to work at all.

Never figured out how to whistle either...

[Sacred Jellybean]

You fail, Falcon. However, the fact that you can't whistle or see stereograms is a good explanation for why you're so disagreeable and cynical.

DJ: A good way is to imagine that you're looking at something far off into the distance. You can't stare into a glare of the picture or anything?

Well, it doesn't matter much. You can still see the picture, and seeing it as a crater instead of a hill isn't so bad.

[A Black Falcon]

I got this stereogram poster from some open Nintendo competition in 1995 or so (held at Lechmere, but an official thing -- everyone got a poster, I believe.)... never could see anything, but supposedly it was Samus. I don't know what happened to that poster...

[Great Rumbler]

"It's not a tumor!!"

:(

[Dark Jaguar]

DJ: A good way is to imagine that you're looking at something far off into the distance. You can't stare into a glare of the picture or anything?

I can imagine it all I want but how do I get my eyes to actually focus on an image that's only in my head?

As for the "stare into a glare of the picture" thing, I don't know what that means. Could you explain it?

[Sacred Jellybean]

Well, the way my sister explained the trick to me when we were young was that you can concentrate your vision on a glare of light on the picture (which will be difficult if it's not glossy). Since the distance of that reflection is deeper than the picture's "screen", that supposedly helps the viewer see the 3d image. Basically, you want to focus your eyes farther than the picture, which is difficult.

"It's not a tumor!!"

:(

:D

Doctor: "Well, Brian, I have fantastic news. The tumor in your lungs is not malignant! Your cancer will be in remission pending more chemotherapy."

Brian: "Well, gee... :( First I'm supposed to die, and now I'm not. I wish you could get your answer straight. And why is this room so bright? That halogen light is hurting my eyes. *sigh* Well, today was almost good."

[Dark Jaguar]

Well I'm doing it on an LCD screen so I can't get much of a glare at all, or reflection of anything.

[Weltall]

I can see Stereograms at will and I'm a damned skilled whistler.

Evolution is my bitch.

[Dark Jaguar]

And how often have these two skills led to your continued survival and siring of children?

[Weltall]

Not certain, as while I am still alive, I am not aware of any offspring that are my fault.

But since I am still alive and able to father children, I guess I'm doing something right.