4 Ways to View Stereogram 3D with your magic eye

Caution: Learning how to view stereogram 3D may cause dizziness and strain on your eye. I suggest taking it slowly so that your eye can rest and adjust to viewing stereograms. No need to rush it.

Stereograms, or more commonly known as Magic Eye, were popular back then when I was in Elementary. I remember when there were a bunch of newspaper clips with weird patterns on them one day when I came from school. One of the clip's description tells of a Halloween scenario with pumpkins and scarecrows. This intrigued me and I just have to see it with my own eyes. So, I started learning how to view these images.


If you want to enjoy and be amazed with 3D in stereograms and leave the guy next to you clueless and wondering what is hidden in these images that leave you at awe. You can learn to see 3D by trying and using these various techniques.

1. Nose Technique
This is the most common method being taught to beginners. In a nutshell, you position the stereogram touching your nose and moving it back and forth while maintaining the focus in your eye.

Image courtesy of Vision3D

2. Three Dots Test
This test is more or less a confirmation test which verifies that you have already learned the skill to view stereograms. But this doesn't mean you can't use this method to start viewing 3D with stereograms. You simply need to see 3 dots from 2. Sounds simple, right?

3. Wall through finger method
Now this method is a little bit tricky. Why? Because you just can't simply look directly at the wall and ignore the finger in between your eyes and the wall. As the method implies, you need to look at the wall THROUGH the finger. You should be able to see two fingers.


4. Spacing out
This method is not really a proven solution to viewing stereograms. I just discovered this and found that it somehow works for me. When you space out, it might be different when I do it. So with that, this may or may not work for you.

When I first started learning how to view stereograms, I only knew and used the Nose technique. After years of looking at stereograms, I just learned of Three Dots test and Wall through finger method 2-3 years ago.

Try It!!

Image courtesy of MagicEye

Don't lose hope if you can't see the 3D objects hidden the first time you use these methods. Remember that this takes practice and patience. Keep practising and don't forget to rest your eyes.