You'll have to stand up for this one, but it's worth it

  • Thread starter Thread starter tribdog
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion revolves around an optical illusion featuring Marilyn Monroe, where viewers perceive her image differently based on their distance from the screen. Participants share experiences of viewing the image from various distances, with some suggesting techniques like squinting or using browser zoom features (CTRL- in Firefox) to enhance the illusion. The conversation highlights the interplay between shape recognition and fine detail perception in visual analysis, with humorous anecdotes about the challenges of seeing the image clearly. The discussion also touches on the potential for creating programs that merge images to replicate this effect.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of optical illusions and visual perception
  • Familiarity with image manipulation tools like GIMP
  • Basic knowledge of browser functionalities, specifically zoom features
  • Awareness of the psychological aspects of visual analysis
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore advanced optical illusion techniques and their psychological implications
  • Learn about image processing algorithms for merging images
  • Investigate the effects of distance on visual perception in psychology
  • Research the use of browser tools for enhancing visual experiences
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for psychologists, graphic designers, and anyone interested in the science of visual perception and optical illusions.

tribdog
Messages
768
Reaction score
17
MonroeEnstein_AudeOliva2007.jpg


This is pretty neat. If you look at this picture from about 15 feet away is looks exactly like Marilyn Monroe. Seriously, get out of your chair and step across the room or down the hall and look. Then walk towards your monitor and watch Marilyn change. I saw this picture in an article about optical illusions when I clicked on the Scientific American Partner Network.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I didn't quite see Monroe, but I did see some twisted, hellish amalgamation of her and Einstein. That was quite creepy.
 
I had to go 25 to 30 feet away, but it was totally Monroe. My pupil diameter is 7 cm, that might have something to do with it (I'm a squid, BTW).
 
matthyaouw said:
I didn't quite see Monroe, but I did see some twisted, hellish amalgamation of her and Einstein. That was quite creepy.

go further away then, or squint a little bit. Once you are far enough away it won't be an amalgamation it will be a perfect Marilyn.
 
You don't have to move away, at least if you use Opera :wink: Just press -
 
Borek said:
You don't have to move away, at least if you use Opera :wink: Just press -
I had to zoom down to about 10% (using gimp). Funny.
 
dammit, I'm trying to get you up off your butts. quit resizing my picture and take a walk
 
tribdog said:
dammit, I'm trying to get you up off your butts. quit resizing my picture and take a walk
I did that too. But being a physicist, my house is very small.
 
yay, I went for my weekly sport event and actually walked. Amazing. Now could we agree on advising Evo to stay put and resize the picture?
 
  • #10
Maybe someone can make an animated gif and post it here...? Ummm...I'm a little busy, at the moment. o:)
 
  • #11
Should be enough if you almost close your eyes, so that the picture becomes blurry. You loose fine lines, but you still see shape.

That's an interesting case when two methods of picture analysis in your brain (one based on the shape and one based on the fine details) compete.
 
  • #12
Borek said:
Should be enough if you almost close your eyes, so that the picture becomes blurry. You loose fine lines, but you still see shape.

That's an interesting case when two methods of picture analysis in your brain (one based on the shape and one based on the fine details) compete.

Might be the very basis of the song, "The Women, All Get Prettier At Closing Time".:rolleyes:
 
  • #13
Borek said:
Should be enough if you almost close your eyes, so that the picture becomes blurry. You loose fine lines, but you still see shape.

That's an interesting case when two methods of picture analysis in your brain (one based on the shape and one based on the fine details) compete.
That's what I did, Borek. Squinting to lose detail worked well - I only have about 8' of space to move away from my monitor. Even better was CTRL- (I use Firefox) to shrink the display and a little squinting.
 
  • #14
tribdog said:
go further away then, or squint a little bit. Once you are far enough away it won't be an amalgamation it will be a perfect Marilyn.

My house isn't that large! I've tried zooming out though. Pretty cool illusion.
 
  • #15
No matter how far back I get, she still has a moustache.
 
  • #16
Very nice!
So anyone already wrote a program to merge two pictures this way?
 
  • #17
That is pretty good.

I squinted, and rubbed my eyes and let my blurred vision run riot with the water in my eyes - and viola it was either Marilyn Monroe or Gretchen Mol couldn't really tell the difference. No mustache, and the necktie vanished into a necklace. Albert never looked so good - to me anyway.

http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/gretchen-mol-2005-vanity-fair-oscar-party-1jtxw3.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #18
Evo said:
No matter how far back I get, she still has a moustache.

If you get far enough away (or shrink it enough) the moustache becomes her smile.
 
  • #19
TheStatutoryApe said:
If you get far enough away (or shrink it enough) the moustache becomes her smile.
I see it is supposed to be a smile, but I can still tell it's a moustache, if I have my glasses on. I probably can go 20+ feet because it's backs into another room and a hallway. It's the only feature that stands out.
 
  • #20
Evo said:
I see it is supposed to be a smile, but I can still tell it's a moustache, if I have my glasses on. I probably can go 20+ feet because it's backs into another room and a hallway. It's the only feature that stands out.

if I have my glasses on? sheesh. You could probably go 100 feet and see the moustache with a good pair of binoculars. The idea is to get far enough away that you can't see the moustache. Uncorrected eyesight should make it easier.
 
  • #21
Put your glasses upside down :smile:
 
  • #22
I didnt move away, I focused out and say it...
 
  • #23
Wooo view attachment. Same picture zoomed out to about 8%.
 

Attachments

  • monroe.jpg
    monroe.jpg
    721 bytes · Views: 442
  • #24
moose said:
Wooo view attachment. Same picture zoomed out to about 8%.
I found around the same scale where the effect becomes impressive (10% or so)
 
  • #25
Evo said:
No matter how far back I get, she still has a moustache.

Ha! Totally..
 
  • #26
That's not Marilyn with a moustache, that's http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4079000320/nm0000349" !
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #27
Whats the first picture on this page?
 
  • #28
tribdog said:
dammit, I'm trying to get you up off your butts. quit resizing my picture and take a walk

If I remove my glasses, I can roll my chair back about 3 feet to see Marilyn. My butt doesn't even flex one millimeter.
 
  • #29
Redbelly98 said:
My butt doesn't even flex one millimeter.
Oh, I want to say something, but it would be totally inappropriate for a mentor. :biggrin:
 
  • #30
Indeed! Mentors must set the example for us peons. :rolleyes:
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K
Replies
10
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
43K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
9K