Garstripes Optical Illusion

Commentator who goes under the name Koaieus left an intriguing image on one of our last posts. Even though I prefer illusion submissions sent in through ordinary email, I suppose it can be done this way too. Anyway, this one was really hard to see. Can you spot the hidden motive beneath the layering stripes? It sure took some time before I could see it. Be sure to un-focus your vision, and lean to the side while observing the given example. If you’re still having hard time seeing it, check out the title – perhaps it might help!

125 Replies to “Garstripes Optical Illusion”

  1. Here’s a way to see it. Click the window on your browser. Then drag the window across your desktop slightly back-and-forth left-to-right very rapidly.

    1. Just keep in mind that under Windows 7 and Vista, shaking your window back and forth rapidly is a gesture that minimizes all other windows. :)

  2. Its actually easier to see if you get close to your screen and look from the far left or right. Cool, I love Garfield :D:D:D

    1. As you’re looking at the image, just move back to about a metre away from the screen. Becomes incredibly clear from a distance away from the screen.

  3. ***SPOILER***
    Wait! I see it. I clicked on the image and moved it around the original image slowly and saw Garfield’s face. : D

  4. Interesting that while I could see it on my laptop monitor, I was completely unable to see it on my HD monitor, even once I knew what I was looking for.

  5. Garfield. Pretty cool, though I can only see it in it’s widget form as it is small (although, maybe it was because I was viewing it from the side?).

  6. Here is an interesting exercise: Left click on the image, the slowly drag the “ghost” image left and right over the original image. You get ashimmering strobe effect, the background stripes turn light and dark, and Garfield appears and disappears.

  7. If you zoom way in there are slight bulges in the vertical lines. I would have liked an image of something other than a copyrighted cat though.

  8. There is slight shading to the edges of Gar :o) Almost impossible for the eye to pick up as it wants to try and focus on the whole, I guess the verticals mess it up. I like it…

  9. Strange… Saw it immediately clear as a bell and didn’t understand what the illusion was supposed to be, but as I stared at it, the picture of Garfield completely disappeared. Couldn’t see it again until I looked away for awhile, then back at it.

  10. I have found the REAL illusion in this. If you are viewing this on the laptop, tilt the screen way back. You will see garfield drawn in black lines. Now tilt the screen forward (towards they keyboard). You will see garfield in white!

  11. I thought it might be slight anomalies in the lines but zooming in does not show it. In fact the image disappears entirely when zoomed. I suspect subtle subdued tones that become more difficult to detect as the pixels are spread apart, kind of like writing on a rubber band and stretching it out.

  12. if you minimize the screen and scroll across you can see it. However i saw it as soon as i looked at it, i was just seeing how it could be made easier.

  13. I looked at this about half an hour this morning and never could see anything. But this evening after trying one of the hints, I had no trouble at all. Might be the different lighting or maybe just knowing what to look for. I just made my browser smaller and moved it back and forth once and it was obvious. I could also see it clearly looking at the screen from above. That’s the best illusion I’ve seen for a long time!

  14. yup, garfield! along with the movement suggestions, I found that greater distance helped a bit. I have a 32″ LED monitor.

  15. Nice. The way this works is some of the white lines have a few pixels on them that arn’t quite white.

    Looking vertically down on an LCD screen seems to reverse the image (black = white) making it slightly easier to see. I’m note sure why slowely moving the image across the screen works, possibly something to do with my screen not updating colours fast enough.

    An alternative way to see the image is to put the picture into a picture editing tool and drop the brightness down to the point just before the picture goes compleately black (if you have a slide bar that updates the screen as you change the slider that would make it easier to see). To make your own, reverse the process making your picture very bright then add the black lines. High contrast pictures are probably needed e.g. line drawings.

  16. I stepped back app 1½, then he was sharp and constant – I don’t get the meening of moving from side to side – I expected him to move but he doesn’t ?????

  17. Cool Thing!

    How can i make such an Pic? Would be interesting to know that and make one on my own.

    Anybody knows?

    1. Yeah I know how to make this, I’m the creator of this one. But, I don’t know if you’ll ever read this message, so it’s pointless explaining it to you here xD

  18. If you click the image it comes up on a white background. Step back from the screen and gaze in wonder ….. no need to unfocus or lean ….. nice one !!!

  19. … and one can be forgiven for thinking something else when looking at the smug look on his face …… looks like he has a …..

    1. Sir I find that to be a very innapropriate comment and would like to point out that children like to look at these too so I must ask you to remove your post.

    2. Ok wtf? EW ! I’m a child and i just find that perverted . HA U perv .. [I’m 11.5]

    3. What kind of self-righteous, puritanical, alarmist fearmongerer teaches children that there’s something inherently perverted about a penis?

      Did you know that 50% of ALL HUMANS are born with a penis? These perverted half-monster creatures even touch their penises several times a day when they use the restroom? This exceedingly foul ritual is taught to them by their fathers, most of whom have penises of their own.

      But all joking aside, I am 100% serious when I say you should have your head examined. You are projecting your own hang-ups onto those around you.

    4. To 11.5yr old – you’re offended by the word “penis” which is just a body part, yet you use the abbreviation “wtf” which has an offensive CURSE word on the end of it?

      And Steev – good on you! ;)

  20. Just turn your head and look at it using your peripheral vision……..the lines almost completely disappear.

    Cool!!

  21. Koaieus is absolutely correct. I spent alot of time looking for something, but nada. I adjusted the brightness and lo and behold its garfield. Looks like he already ate the lasagna though!:D

  22. This is a really good illusion, but it does kill my eyes! I did eventually see the smiling moggy after tilting my head to the side.

  23. Oh god these things give me a headache. Seriously, my head and eyes hurt and I feel slightly nauseous just from looking at it.

    Even before I could make out the Garfield.

  24. With my glasses on I couldn’t see anything except lines, I took my glasses off and the lines were gone leaving only Garfield. How odd.

  25. i didn’t see it in the larger picture until i put the screen to half and moved the side to side bar, then the big picture became really obvious

  26. ELO garfield! Milan if you have a labtop or whatever its called i picked up the bottom and tipped my computer screen AWAY from me youll INSTANTLY see garfield.

  27. just for those who still can’t see it, some say moving to the side will help, from what I’ve seen vertical works better

  28. My 3yr old saw this before I did and I only saw it as I moved on and started scrolling up. Thought you should know. Seems children may not have the same issues adults do with things like this. ???

    1. if u look from a lower level u see it. perhaps thats why a 3 year old (hopefully shorter than u) saw it easier

  29. when i looked slightly above i saw circles. when i look strait in the center i saw an anime cartoon. when i looked from below i saw garfield

  30. dont need to fo far away from pc just stare and shake out your head to left and right quickly.
    you can see dump ass garfield

  31. Omg i didnt have a clue but my 5 year old cousin found it . Cuz i had no chair and she was standing at the edge so… Omg !!!!!!!!!!! its Garfield weldone cuz xxx

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