Spinning Silhouette Illusion
Monday, July 16th, 2007.
Cool illusion. At the first glance, she is spinning clockwise (or otherwise), but then, you can change her direction. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- You have to look down at the shadow, keep your eyes there for some seconds and then slowly move your eyes upward.
- Sometimes my brain even changes the direction when I look at different parts of the figure. Dont stare at her, keep your eyes moving up and down.
- when she turns clockwise she has the right foot up.. when counter-clockwise its the left foot.. just tell yourself which foot is up and she will turn in that direction.
Any explanations?
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(25 votes, average: 4.76 out of 5). 
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July 16th, 2007 23:58
It is possible that the animation actually reverses itself and it is not an illusion at all. The trick is the assumption that the animation is only for one turn.
July 17th, 2007 00:18
It’s because the body is left/right symmetrical, so without depth, you can’t tell if a side is coming or going, or which side it is.
A good way to switch the direction is to click on the picture and drag a short distance. This freezes the picture. Then tell yourself which foot is which and release the mouse.
July 17th, 2007 02:09
this is a simple one… you can examine it by looking at it from the top corner of your eyes, while reading the reactions. you’ll see that if you look down she moves counter clockwise and when you look closely or focussed she keeps on moving clocwise. the trick is that the silhouet looks the same when she faces you and when she shows her back. that’s why your mind could assume , as long your not focussing, that she changes directions.
July 17th, 2007 07:21
I don’t think this is an illusion.;)
July 18th, 2007 05:01
I can’t see her spinning any other way than clockwise. Am I the only one that doesen’t see the inversion?
July 18th, 2007 15:09
It is a matter of continuity.
Because you are looking at a silhouette, there is no volume perception. There is a point when your brain decides that is looking at her right leg in front of the left, and she is showing her back, then, if next leg position is to the right continuity is established clockwise, and viceversa.
At a given instant, attention is lost, distraction occurs, and your reference point is shifted, hence spinning changes.
July 19th, 2007 05:06
Whatever i try: The figure turns only in clockwise direction. hm …
July 19th, 2007 07:36
Doesn’t work for me at all.
July 20th, 2007 06:52
At first it didnt work for me too, but a really easy way to switch the orientation, is looking on the picture upside down for a while, not focusing in particular on any part of the body.
I think the idea behind this, is the absence of depth, when you see a shadow, you see just the outline, and you can’t tell if it’s “facing you” or if it turns its back on you…
Anyway
November 23rd, 2008 04:16
I could only see it in the left form. I saw it in a speeded up version adn it automatically changed fast. Now i look at this I can alter my perception.
I stare at her heel. I star are where her heel and the shadow touch. You just have to be open minded