Anamorphic 2D Images That Look Three-Dimensional from a Particular Viewpoint

viewpoint

function

2

-

2

x

-

2

y



This Demonstration illustrates flat images that look three-dimensional when seen from the appropriate viewpoint. These kind of images are used in anamorphic art. Changing the viewpoint shows that the graph on the left is three-dimensional while the graph on the right is totally flat, although they look identical when

θ

is equal to zero or

2π

. The main reason for this effect is a distortion on the 2D graph; however, the effect is also enhanced with the coloring and transparency of the surfaces.