Perceptual Illusions
Apparent Motion Illusions
(by Akiyoshi Kitaoka)
Shading Illusions
*In the above picture, square D looks darker than square C. However, they are exactly the same.
Don't believe it? Scroll down.
Here are the bottom two squares (C & D) with the top two (A & B) removed.
In this illusion, A and B are exactly the same shade of gray.
To prove it, scroll down.
(by Edward H. Adelson)
Here's the same illusion, with chunks of A and B cut and pasted on the side,
where it becomes apparent that they are the same shade of gray.
The gray bar in the middle of this picture seems to be lighter on the left side
and darker towards the right end. However, it's the same shade throughout.
Here's the exact same gray bar, with the surrounding shading removed.
These two squares are the exact same shade of gray, although the one on the left appears darker.
Here are the exact same two squares with the surrounding shading removed.
Ilusions - General
The circular lines appear to be spiraling inward toward the center. However, they are circles, not spirals.
Trace one with your finger to confirm it.
\
The same goes for this picture: circles, not spirals.
Even with colored lines added to outline the circles
the spirals still appear.
These tiles appear to be arranged so that the lines are slanted from one side to another.
However, they are perfectly straight.
("Cafe Wall Illusion" discovered by Richard Gregory in a cafe in Bristol, U.K. )
With the red guidelines, it becomes apparent that they are straight.
The small squares inside the larger squares creates the appearance that the grid becomes warped.
However all of the large squares are the same size, and the small squares are in straight lines.
This also becomes more apparent once red guidelines are in place.
Pareidolia
Faces
Marlene Dietrich grilled cheese sandwich
The Woman on the Moon (top right), the Man on the Moon (bottom left), and the Rabbit on the Moon (bottom right).
Hands & Limbs
Animals
The "face of the giant panda" sign in the neurological disorder Wilson's disease.
Geograpical
Religious
Iron Jesus (or Mona Lisa)
Football Jesus
Jesus MRI
Jesus potatoes
Jesus sonogram
Jesus in a photo of a Victorian-era couple with their child.
The same photo colorized to clarify the figures.
The Nun Bun
Lots of Satan in 9/11 smoke.
The Devil in Queen Elizabeth's hair on the 1954 Canadian Dollar
by Melinda Green