Perceptual Illusions

Apparent Motion Illusions

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.

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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