autostereogram

English

A random dot autostereogram encodes a 3D scene which can be "seen" with proper viewing technique.

Etymology

From auto- +‎ stereogram.

Noun

autostereogram (plural autostereograms)

1. A single-image stereogram, designed to trick the human eye and brain into seeing a three-dimensional scene in a two-dimensional image.

   To help see a random dot autostereogram correctly, pull the eyes (and face) towards, say, within one inch of the random dot autostereogram, and then slowly pull away, until the central 3D shape coalesces into view.

   • 2022, Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Vintage (2023), page 7:

     If you stared at the pattern long enough, your brain would trick itself into seeing a hidden 3D image. It was called an autostereogram, and it was easy to make one if you were a moderately skilled programmer.

Synonyms

• magic eye