Dotscape

by Richard Hallas

This is the 'hidden' 3D picture described in Richard Hallas' article
about using ProArtisan to create these pictures. Double-click on the
!DotScape icon to open a directory display on it. You can then load
the sprite in
to Paint to look at it or drag it to a printer driver to print it out.
The picture looks best in 256 colour high resolution modes like mode 21 and
mode 28. Failing that, mode 15 can be used. It will help you see the image if
you use the zoom feature of Paint to enlarge the image to the full
screen size. 

It has to be said that some people never do see the 3D images. If you have a
dominant eye you may have great difficulty in seeing the pictures. However,
anyone with reasonably normal vision should be able to see them; it doesn't
matter if you wear glasses or contact lenses. The following instructions
apply to viewing the image both on screen, or in printed copy.

The trick is to hold the picture fairly close in front of you whilst
focusing at a more distant object, which is initially hard to do. If you
actually focus on the image you will never see the 3D part, because your eyes
will both be looking at the same part of the picture. In fact, rather than
your eyes looking inwards as they normally would to focus on a page, they
should be closer to parallel. Whereas with stereoscopic photography two
images are presented to your eyes separately, here there is one picture, and
your eyes have to do the hard work of separating the details.

If you find focusing past the page difficult, try looking at a distant object
and then bring the picture in front of your eyes,
trying very hard not to allow your eyes to alter their focus. You should
still be looking at the picture, even though you can't see it. Relax and
stare through the picture, holding it absolutely still, and try not to
blink. After a while the dots should dance and start to make patterns, and
suddenly the image will grow out. An alternative approach is to
have the image close in front of your eyes, so that you must focus
beyond it, and then move it slowly away. Be patient, but don't spend a
ridiculous time staring, as your eyes will grow tired, and you may give yourselfa headache. Some people see the images very quickly; with others it may take a
long time.


 Copyright RISC User 1994
