Comments on: Spinning Silhouette Illusion

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:16:46 +0000

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

By: fronyboy

fronyboy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:52:40 +0000

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

By: Julio

Julio — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:36:45 +0000

Doesn’t work for me at all.

By: 9inchpixel

9inchpixel — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:06:12 +0000

Whatever i try: The figure turns only in clockwise direction. hm …

By: Oscar

Oscar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:09:56 +0000

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.

By: Spekatie

Spekatie — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:01:27 +0000

I can’t see her spinning any other way than clockwise. Am I the only one that doesen’t see the inversion?

By: slida

slida — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:21:26 +0000

I don’t think this is an illusion.;)

By: Fons

Fons — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:09:58 +0000

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.

By: KNfLrPn

KNfLrPn — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:18:05 +0000

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.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:58:46 +0000

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.