optical illusion - two lines, one height

the two black vertical lines are actually the same size. this was originally a single still frame (the first frame of the video), and from that it's hard to see that the lines are the same height (though print this out and use a ruler and you'll see they are). i created this quicktime to illustrate just how the illusion works. all i do in the video is slowly take away the other elements in the picture.

i never alter the lines as i erase other parts of the image. both lines are exactly the same height, but the other diagonal lines around them give the illusion of one being smaller than the other because our brains perceive the horizontal lines coming together as moving away from us into the distance, thus interpreting the "rear" black line as larger.

note: although i made this quicktime, i did not create the original art. the quicktime is an extraction of a single jpeg (originally a slightly larger and colorized version of the first frame of this vid). unfortunately i do not know where the original frame came from.

update: thanks to commenter mckack i've learned this is known as the ponzo illusion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzo_illusion

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• optical
• illusion
• same
• height
• lines

[XxXxkeybladematerxXx]

how the....what the.........are you a wizard lol

[lizzyhayes2011]

xDD I got out a measuring tape

[JLeeMagnetic]

dang that is CRazyy!!!!!

[DaMrMatt808]

what sort of witchcraft is this??!! HES A WITCH!! BURN HIM AT THE STAKE!!

[GuitarMusicEddy]

MINDFUCK!!



[Zemarzo]

the closer bit is bigger than the further part so the line is smaller closer and bigger further

[Execu]

@XxXxkeybladematerxXx no, it's because our brain thinks in 3d even though what we see is 2d, your brain thinks that the line is closer and the other one farther so in all logic the one that's farther is longer even if in 2d it's the same size. Actually your brain is playing tricks on you.

[shadowstalker9476]

@takishan thats what she said :(

[takishan]

They're both 3 cm long

[Masterblade90]

HUZZAAHHHWANNAWHHHAAAA!?!?!!? HOW CAN THIS BE!? I DON'T...... ZOMG OMGNOWAI............ ok I'm done over reacting

[Dxthegod]

...WHAT IS THIS, I DON'T EVEN...