Whether on a computer screen or on a piece of paper optical illusions are fascinating. The optical illusions can be an intriguing display of how our brain processes sensory information to create the perception of reality.
Each of these elements is optical illusions. Human visual systems are constantly observing the light, color, distance and dimensions.
What is an Optical Illusion?
An optical illusion occurs when an image confuses the brain and the eyes. In a fraction of a second, the visual system can send hundreds of images to the brain. The brain organizes this information by defining boundaries, studying the contrast zones, sorting colours and even figuring out based on previous experiences about what it will see.
Sometimes it’s not clear what’s wrong. There is nothing wrong with your eyes or the brain. It’s just a disagreement about the image you’re seeing. Similar illusions are experienced by other senses. If you’ve got an animal crawling across your arms, it could appear as if it’s going down.
There are three kinds of optical illusions: literal, physiological and cognitive. Physiological illusions are those that seem to be moving, but are actually still images. They result from the brain stimulating its senses as it tries to interpret motion from a still image. The illusions that can occur include the Ponzo Illusion where two lines appear to have different lengths.
Advertisement using optical illusions – -
Optical illusions are employed in psychology classes, museums as well as by your hippie friend with posters hung on his walls, but you might not have believed that they could be employed in marketing. But they can be incredibly efficient in grabbing people’s attention and generating a sense of movement or, in some cases, crinkly eyes.
Jane Pain, a popular brand of lingerie, has recently launched an optical illusion campaign that features women’s bums and busts on their merchandise. But, if you look carefully, you’ll realize that the undressed body parts are actually knees and elbows.
Another cool optical illusion that’s been employed for advertising is the Kit Kat truck, which appears as if the driver is in a hammock instead of driving the truck. This optical illusion can be a wonderful way to grab people’s attention and encourage customers to pause to enjoy an Kit Kat. This ad uses perceptual priming and set to create a positive connection with the brand.
Artistic optical illusions
MC Escher’s Penrose triangle and his never-ending staircase are well-known examples of optical illusions. Since the Renaissance optical effects have been a key element in art. Artists used the camera obscura as well as linear perspective to make amazing illusions of trompe-l’oeil.
In many cases, geometrical in nature, Op art is not representational and makes use of lines, shapes and blocks of color to give the impression of movements, hidden images, or swells or warping. Its popularity began in 1960s with the work of Victor Vasarely and the 1965 exhibition The Responsive Eye, which gave the movement more exposure to the public.
Inspired by the op-art movement, the painter Joseph Albers experimented with how colors interact and influence each other. In his Homage to the Square paintings, Albers layers colored squares on top of one another to explore the way different hues influence our perception of shape and depth.
Optical illusions in music
The latest optical illusion on the rounds is a musical one. It is based on a layout of musical notes, which are all identical. They give the appearance of lyrics when playing simultaneously on a keyboard.
These brilliant illusions are an excellent illustration of how your brain absorbs information from your senses. It makes use of it to create your perception of the world around you. Whether this happens naturally or through a deliberate process our brains are extremely capable.
Artists such as Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely and Jesus Rafael Soto experimented with illusionary effects in their work. Soto made immersive installations that blurred the distinction between art and the viewer, inviting them interact with his work.