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Comment by patdennis | Hacker News Reader

I have never in my life been able to see one of these things correctly, and I've tried since about age 7 or so. One day!

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You just have to un-focus your eyes, and wait. Sometimes it can take a few minutes. I'd suggest trying for a bit with this example, it's amazing once you get the hang of it.

It's a schooner.

Thank you. I came here to say this. You have saved me the shame.

You shouldn't be ashamed. "This is not Reddit" is a BS thing people who have no sense of humor say on here.

A sailboat IS a schooner...

You know what? There is no easter bunny!

I could never get it either, then I figured it out.

You know how when you cross your eyes you get like two different perspectives of whatever you're looking at? Well if you focus in the right way, there's a "middle" perspective between those two. That is where I can see these stereograms or whatnot.

There are two ways to view 3D images: parallel and cross-eyed. This page has some nice images[1].

What you're describing is the cross-eyed way. The parallel way has the disadvantage that the separation between the two images can't be too big (no more than about 5 cm at arms length is my guess), while cross-eyed images can have very large separation (e.g. two side-by-side images[2]).

In return, once you learn how to put your eyes into parallel mode, it's incredibly easy and quick to do so compared to cross-eyed viewing, and much much less taxing on your eyes (since they are pointing in only slightly unnatural angles), and with more easily discernable details.

(also, if you try to view an image with the opposite viewing method it was designed for, it'll come out with the depth inversed, e.g. the raptor image linked by another poster[3] should stand out, rather than look "punched-in")

[1]: http://www.vision3d.com/3views.html

[2]: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2073/1620326328_6dc93774bc_z.j...

[3]: http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5069/diansor.jpg

This is exactly what I do. You'll notice that there is a pattern repeated horizontally across the page. Now cross your eyes until 2 of the repetitions are on top of each other. Once they're on top of each other the image will pop out(you may need to move your head backwards or forwards to make the image pop out). To increase the clarity just focus on one of the edges of the 3d image and your brain will tune it up.

Try it on this picture of a dinosaur[1], notice the 7 white bird-like shapes repeated across the page. Cross 2 of those over and you should see the image of the dinosaur appear.

[1] http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5069/diansor.jpg

The key is to relax your eyes, let them get lazy like you stayed up all night and cross them just a bit. Focus on just one spot and it should come into focus - eventually :)

I have difficulty too I find if I put my nose right up to a stereogram stare as if at an object off far away then move back very very slowly I may be able to see it.

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