Optical Illusions 2

VANITY

Can you see the skull? Charles Gilbert, an American magazine illustrator, created this classic illusion, entitled "All is Vanity", some time around 1905. It was a very popular motif that was imitated many times, including by the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali.

MIRAGE

Where does the line of desert palm trees end, and the line of dromedaries begin? This Saharan scene was created by digital artist Alice Klarke.

SARA NADER

Can you find the face of the woman that the is serenading? This figure ground illusion is by Roger Shepard.

A MOUSE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH A CAT
Is the cat hiding from the mouse or the mouse hiding from the cat? This reversible photo illusion was created by digital artist Alice Klarke, based on an original drawing by artist Peter Brooks.

SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON
Can you find both a portrait of Saint George and a depiction of his slaying of the dragon? Look at Saint George's' hair to see the battle scene.

CORPORAL VIOLET
Can you find the three profiles (Napoleon, his wife and son) hidden between the leaves? This card, whose artist is unknown, originated around 1815.

See also
Optical Illusions Set 1
Optical Illusions Set 3
Optical Illusions Set 4

Optical Illusions

Collection of fascinating optical illusions, many of which have never before been published in this form. From classic illustrations of impossible figures to drawings of everyday objects which turn out to be extraordinary to scintillating graphic patterns which pulsate and change before-your very eyes, the variety of different effects is almost endless!

A HIDDEN PORTRAIT IN A STILL LIFE OF VEGETABLES

Do you perceive a face or a collection of fruit? This is Giuseppe Arcimboldo's classic portrait of the Emperor Rudolph II.

JASTROW'S DUCK/RABBIT ILLUSIONS

This is one of the most famous and classic of all illusion, which was created by the American psychologist Joseph Jastrow in 1888. Depending upon how you view the image, you can perceive either a rabbit or a duck.

VISION OF DON QUIXOTE

How many hidden faces can you find? There are several hidden faces in this illustration of the classic Cervantes character, but the main scene is ambiguous with a portrait of Don Quixote and his faithful servant Sancho Panza.

THE MYSTERIOUS LIPS
Do you perceive the face? The Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali, who was fascinated by ambiguous imagery, entitles this scene "The Mysterious Lips that Appeared on the Back of my Nurse", painted in 1941.

ANGELS
Can you find both the heads and bodies of angels? The head and hand of the large angel contain the bodies of four smaller angels.

See also

Optical Illusions Set 2
Optical Illusions Set 3
Optical Illusions Set 4

Your Card Is

Effect: You tell a spectator the name of a card he chose.

Secret: Spread a shuffled pack face up to show they are well mixed. Remember the bottom card. Turn the cards over and ask a spectator to take one. Ask him to remember the card and then place it face down on top of the pack. Cut the cards a few times. Spread the cards before you. The selected card is the next card to the right of the one you remembered earlier. Pretend to read the spectator's mind and reveal the card selected.

Where Are The Matches?

Effect: Two empty matchboxes and one containing some matches are moved around on a table. The spectators are unable to identify which box contains the matches.

Secret: All three matchboxes are empty. Attached to your right arm and hidden by your sleeve is a matchbox containing some matches. Shake a box with your left hand it sounds empty. When you mix up the three visible boxes you can make any one appear to be the full one, simply by shaking it with your right hand. The spectators think it contains matches because they hear the sound from the hidden box.

Watch Wizardry

Effect: You use a watch to divine a thought-of-number.

Secret: Show a watch and ask someone to think of any number from 1 to 12. Tap a pencil against numbers on the dial. As you do this, the spectator mentally counts to 20, one for each tap, beginning with one above the number he is thinking of. You make the first seven taps anywhere on the watch face. On the eighth, tap your pencil on 12. Continue tapping the numbers anti-clockwise around the dial. When the spectator reaches 20, your pencil will be pointing to the number he is thinking of.

Wand Power

Effect: The magician makes some mysterious passes around a wand or pencil which uncannily starts to move on its own.

Secret: The magician secretly blows on the wand, which causes it to roll.

Props: Use a wand or pencil. A smooth, firm surface is essential.

Preparation: Practice blowing toward the wand gently and secretly.

Presentation: Lay the wand on the table and very slowly trace circles around the outside of the wand with a finger. Then, as you move the finger away, the wand seems to follow. You claim to have created a static field that pulls plastic like a magnet. The trick is that as you draw the finger away from you and from the wand, you blow gently on the wand. The audience is so busy watching the movement of the finger, they won't notice that you are blowing towards the wand, which causes it to roll easily on the flat surface.

Wallet Of Wonders

Effect: A 10p coin changes to two 5p coins.

Secret: To make the special wallet required you need two sheets of paper, folded as shown. Open out the folds and glue the shaded areas together. Put two 5p coins in the centre of the top sheet and fold it around them. Fold up the bottom sheet and turn the whole lot over. Place a borrowed 10p in the centre of the empty sheet and fold the paper around it. As you do this secretly turn the whole packet over.Open the paper to reveal the two coins.

Walking Through A Postcard

Effect: A postcard is cut so it will go over your body.

Secret: Boast that you can walk through a postcard then make the following moves. Fold the postcard in half length ways. Make as many cuts as possible from the edge of the card to the centre and from the centre towards the edges as shown. The more cuts you make the easier the trick is to do. Unfold the card and cut along the centre, from A to B. You can now open out the card into a large loop that will easily go over your body.

Vanishing Ring

Effect: You make a finger ring vanish.

Secret: The ring is tied to a long piece of elastic which runs up your sleeve to a safety pin attached to the top of the sleeve.The elastic should be long enough to allow you to put the ring on your finger. Take the ring off and pretend to show it in the air. When you let go, the elastic carries the ring up your sleeve. You could, if you wish, find the ring (a duplicate) in a sealed box that has been on your table since the start of the trick.

Unburstable Balloon

Effect: You stick pins into an inflated balloon – but, thanks to your magical powers, the balloon does not burst.

Secret: The balloon has on it several pieces of clear adhesive tape. These will not be visible from even a short distance away. Push a pin into the balloon at one of the taped areas and the balloon will not burst (although it will go down after a while). You can push the pin into several different places to prove your magical ability. When you want the balloon to burst simply push the pin into an area that is not protected by tape.

Two In The Hand

Effect: Someone thinks of one of two items, you predict which.

Secret: Give someone any two items. They could be coins, cards, buttons – anything you like. He holds one in one hand and one in the other. While your back is turned, ask him to think of either object – he has a free choice. To help him concentrate suggest he holds the chosen object up to his forehead. After a short while, ask him to lower his hand and you then turn round.You know which he chose as the hand holding it will be lighter than the other. Holding it up causes blood to drain from that hand.

Turn Over Card

Effect: A chosen card reverses itself in the pack.

Secret: Spread the cards face down and ask a spectator to take any card. While he is showing the card to the rest of the audience, secretly reverse the bottom card then turn the whole pack over in your hands. Walk towards the spectator and ask him to replace his card in the pack face down. As you walk back to your table, turn the reversed card face up and turn over the whole pack again. All the cards are now face down with the exception of one card – the one the spectator chose.

Travelling Ace

Effect: The Ace of Diamonds vanishes from the pack.

Secret: Put the Ace of Diamonds in your pocket. Arrange the remaining Aces so the Ace of Hearts is behind the other two. With the point of the Heart uppermost it looks like the Ace of Diamonds. Turn the cards face down as you say: "I will put these Aces in the pack – the Ace of Clubs, the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Spades". Ask a spectator to go through the cards and take out the Ace of Diamonds. When he fails to find it, you take if from your pocket.

The Travelling Coin

Effect: A coin travels from one hand to the other.

Secret: Place a coin on the palm of your left hand and another on the fingers of your right hand as shown. Turn over hands quickly and simultaneously. Lift the right hand and the coin has vanished. Lift the left hand to reveal there are two coins beneath it. Due to the positioning of the coins, this trick works automatically. Even so, you should still practise it in private before showing it to anyone. If you are left handed, you may find that the trick works better if the positions of the coins are reversed.

The Self-propelled Ball

Effect: A ball rolls across the table until you tell it to stop.

Secret: Under the table cloth is a small ring attached to a length of strong thread. The thread runs across the table to where your secret assistant is sitting. A small ball is placed on the table. It must go into the concealed ring. On your word of command your assistant pulls on the thread and the ball moves. You then pick up the ball and hand it to a spectator. As you are doing this, your assistant pulls the ring from beneath the cloth and hides it.

The Removable Thumb

Effect: You appear to remove your thumb!

Secret: Practise this in front of a mirror. Hold out your left hand with the palm facing you. Bend your left thumb in half towards your body. Bend your right thumb in half and place it alongside the left (see figure 1). Place your right forefinger over the front of the two thumbs where they touch (see figure 2). Move your right hand to the right and it looks as if you have removed your thumb (see figure 3). This trick should be done only to people who are directly facing you.

The Ninth Card

Effect: You divine the identity of a selected card.

Secret: This is how to make someone take the card you want. Secretly place the card you decide to use ninth from the top of the pack. Ask someone to call a number between 10 and 20. Count that number of cards, one at a time, from the pack. Add the digits of the chosen number. Deal that number of cards off the cards just dealt. Ask someone to look at the next card. It will be the card you placed at ninth position. You can reveal it in any way you wish.

The Mystic Seven

Effect: You predict which pile of cards a spectator will choose.

Secret: One a piece of paper, you write: "You will choose the Seven pile". The paper is then folded and given to a spectator for safekeeping. You now take several cards from a pack and arrange them in three face down piles. The three piles are formed as follows: Pile One: Any seven cards. Pile Two: The four Sevens. Pile Three: An Ace, a Two and a Four (which add up to seven). A spectator is given the choice of any of the three piles. Whichever pile is chosen the prediction is always correct.

The Haunted Pack

Effect: A pack of cards divides to reveal a chosen card.

Secret: Ask someone to take a card, look at it and remember it. Point to the top card of the pack. As you do this you secretly drop a few grains of salt on the top card. The spectator puts his card on the top of the pack and the pack is then cut, so the chosen card is hidden somewhere near the centre. Hit the edge of the pack with the heel of your hand and, thanks to the secret salt, the pack will divide at the chosen card.

The Ghostly Card

Effect: A playing card vanishes when placed in a glass tumbler.

Secret: You need a piece of clear plastic the same shape and size as a playing card. Place this on top of a pack of cards. Cover the cards with a handkerchief and apparently remove the top card in the handkerchief. You actually take the sheet of plastic. Show a glass tumbler and ask a spectator to push the card, still covered by the handkerchief, into it. Whisk the handkerchief away and the card has vanished. Being transparent, the plastic cannot be seen from even a short distance away.

That's Torn It!

Effect: A coin is wrapped in paper. You then tear up the paper – the coin has disappeared!

Secret: Place the coin on the paper, just above the centre. Fold the top portion of paper down over the coin. Fold the right side of the paper around to the back. Do the same with the left side. Lastly, fold the bottom portion back. This procedure leaves the bottom edge of the packet open. Hold the paper in your hand and allow the coin to slip secretly into your hand. Tear up the paper and the coin seems to have vanished.

That's It

Effect: You apparently read someone's mind to identify an object selected while you are out of the room.

Secret: You need a secret assistant. While you are out of the room someone selects any object in the room. When you return, your accomplice points to objects around the room but you have arranged that the fifth object he points to will be the chosen object. Identifying objects three times in succession (after arranging a different code number with your accomplice for each repeat performance) should be enough to convince the spectators that you possess amazing powers of mind reading.

Marvellous Memory

Effect: You appear to memorize the order of a pack of cards.

Secret: Cut a small hole in the bottom right corner of your card case. Ask someone to shuffle the cards and hand them back to you. Look through the cards quickly, then place them in the case. Hold the case in front of you and you will see the index of the first card through the hole. Name this card and pull it from the case. Do the same with a few more until you think you have proved that you really did memorize the order of the cards.

That Rings A Bell

Effect: A small bell rings of its own accord.

Secret: A small bell is on your table. Hold an opaque scarf in front of you, between your hands. In the top right corner of the scarf there is a small pin. Show the other side of the scarf by moving the right hand to the left and the left hand to the right. Do this a few times, then pin the scarf to your left shoulder. This leaves your right hand free to reach down and ring the bell. Immediately bring your hand back up to recover the scarf from your shoulder.

Sweets To The Sweet

Effect: Sweets, produced from a handkerchief, eventually vanish.

Secret: Tie a wrapped sweet to a long length of thread. Attach the other end of the thread to the centre of one side of a handkerchief. Fold the handkerchief in half. Hold two corners in one hand and two in the other. Tip the handkerchief and the sweet falls out into a box on your table. Allow the handkerchief to fall open, with the sweet hidden at the rear. Lift the handkerchief and repeat the above movements until you have produced numerous sweets. Then tip the box to show they have vanished.

Sympathetic Diamond

Effect: A large Ace of Diamonds changes colour when coloured handkerchiefs are passed over it.

Secret: The principal diamond on the card is actually cut out. It gets its colour from a piece of card held behind the Ace. Each time you want the colour of the diamond to change the secret card is moved to a new position. To get a multi-coloured diamond, position the card centrally so all four corners on the card are visible through the diamond-shaped hole. The handkerchiefs hide the movement of the secret card, look colourful and provide a reason for the colour changes.

Sweet And Sour

Effect: You tell the difference between sweet and sour by means of an amazing mental ability.

Secret: On a sheet of card write the words "SWEET" and "SOUR" and tear the card into nine pieces as shown.The pieces are dropped into a bag and mixed up. When you reach in and take a card, you know immediately whether the word on it is "SWEET" or "SOUR". This is possible from the way the card is torn. The "SOUR" pieces have only one straight edge. The "SWEET" pieces have two straight edges, with one exception which has no straight edges whatsoever.

Sum Trick!

Secret: Write 1089 on a piece of paper, fold it and place it on your table. Ask someone to choose any three digit number. All three digits must be different and the first must be higher than the last. Get them to reverse the whole number and write that underneath the first. If, for example, he chose 983 he now writes 389. The lower number is then subtracted from the other. The answer (which, in this example, is 594) is then reversed and this time the two are added together. Open the paper – your prediction is the same as the spectator's total. In fact, if the calculations are done correctly, the answer is always 1089!

Stop!

Effect: A matchbox obeys your commands.

Secret: Run a thread through the end of a matchbox drawer (see figure 1). Put a small eraser or a block of wood in the drawer on top of the thread (see figure 2) then close the box. You are now ready to show the trick. Hold each end of the thread, with one hand above the other. The matchbox should be near the top of the thread. If you hold the thread loosely the box will slide down the thread but if you secretly tighten the thread the box will stop (see figure 3). With practice you can make it stop or go at your command.

Sticky Wand

Effect: This effect is similar to "Palm the Wand" but takes a little more practice to do it correctly.

Secret: A combination of holding the wand or pencil in different ways will give the impression that it has become magnetized and is sticking to your fingers magically.

Presentation: Hold the wand between your hands (see figure 1). Lift one thumb (see figure 2). The audience will still think that your other thumb is holding the wand. Then lift the second thumb (see figure 3). They will be amazed! Study figures 4 and 5 and you will see how the trick is achieved. Carefully interlace your fingers so that one is folded inside your palms (see figure 4). The wand is held behind this hidden finger (see figure 4). Pull your hands apart quickly and let the wand fall when the trick is over.

Spotted

Effect: You predict the numbers on two dice.

Secret: On a postcard write the numbers four and five. Place the card in an envelope. Glue two dice in one end of the drawer of a large matchbox with the four and five spots uppermost. Put two loose dice in the other end of the drawer. Open the matchbox to show the loose dice. Close the drawer and ask a spectator to shake the box. Take the box back and open the drawer at the end containing the glued dice. Allow someone to see the dice then close the drawer. Your prediction is opened and it, of course, correct.

Spirit Initials

Effect: A spectator's initials appear on his own hand.

Secret: Hand someone a soft pencil and ask him to print his initials on a sugar cube. Take the sugar and secretly press your thumb against the initials. Drop the sugar in a glass of water. Ask the spectator to hold his hand over the glass. To show him what to do, you guide his hand over the glass. As you do this, press your thumb against his palm. You have now transferred a copy of the initials to his palm. He will receive a surprise when he sees the initials on his palm.

Spin Vanish

Effect: A matchbox is banged on a spinning coin to stop it. When the matchbox is lifted the coin has vanished.

Secret: Spin a small coin on the table top. Hold the matchbox, which must be empty, so that the drawer is open side down. Bang the matchbox sharply on top of the coin. Ask a spectator if he thinks the head or tails side of the coin is uppermost. Lift the box and the coin has disappeared. Because you banged the matchbox down so hard the coin penetrated the cover and is now inside the box.

Spelling Bee

Effect: Ten cards are counted in a magical manner.

Secret: The cards you use have been secretly arranged in the order shown. The actual suits do not matter. Run the cards, one at a time, from hand to hand. This reverses the order so the Nine is now on the top. Place the 10 cards on the pack. To show the trick count off 10 cards (this gets the arrangement back to normal, with the Three on top). Take the cards one at a time from the top of the packet and place them on the bottom as you spell A C E (one card to each letter). Turn over the card on the E and it is an Ace. Drop this card on the table. Now spell T W O – again moving one card from the top to the bottom of the packet for each letter. Turn over the "O" card, a Two, and drop it on the table. Continue spelling in this way until you get to 10. For the 10th card you have only one card left but pretend to spell the letters as before to amuse your audience.

Soapy Secret

Effect: A coin is shown on the palm of the left hand. A moment later the coin has vanished.

Secret: This trick only works with a small coin. The coin is shown on the palm of your left hand which is then closed into a fist. You then press the nail of your second finger against the coin, for on that nail is a small piece of soap. When you open your hand it seems that the coin has disappeared – but it is really stuck to the back of the second finger with the soap.

Salt Cellar Suspension

Effect: A salt cellar is suspended from your fingertip.

Secret: All you need, apart from the salt cellar, is a toothpick. Keep the toothpick hidden behind your forefinger as you touch the salt cellar. Secretly push the toothpick into the top of the salt cellar. Hold the hidden toothpick between your thumb and forefinger and you can lift the cellar. It appears that the cellar is sticking to your finger. Take the cellar in your left hand and pull it away from the toothpick. As you hand the cellar to someone for examination, secretly drop the toothpick on your lap.

Rubber Wand

Effect: The magician's solid wand or pencil seems to turn to soft rubber. On command, it turns solid again.

Secret: Hold the wand horizontally in front of you between thumb and forefinger about a third of the way from the end. By moving your hand up and down in short quick moves, the wand will seem to become flexible and appear as if it were made of rubber (see illustration). This is an excellent optical illusion.

Presentation: Tap the wand on something to show that it is solid. Say the magic word and now demonstrate that it is wobbly and flexible. Another magic word and it turns solid again.

Rope Through Body

Effect: A rope passes through your assistant's body.

Secret: Two spectators are invited to examine a long length of soft rope. Put the middle of the rope over your assistant's head to her front. Take both ends of the rope around the back of her body where you apparently cross over the ends. In fact your assistant secretly sticks up her thumbs and you wrap the rope around them as shown. Hand the ends of the rope to the spectators on either side. When you clap your hands your assistant secretly lowers her thumbs and walks forward – free of the rope.

Royal Flush

Effect: Five cards change into a Royal Flush.

Secret: Take the Ten, Jack, Queen and King of one suit and cut them in half diagonally. One half is glued on to one of four other cards of any value and suit. Add an Ace to the group and fan out the cards. It looks like five ordinary cards. Lift the cards so the backs are towards the audience. Take off the Ace and show it, as you secretly turn the other cards end for end. Replace the Ace and then let everyone see the faces. They have changed into a Royal Flush.

Rising Pencil

Effect: The magician places a pencil into a bottle. It reacts to his commands and slowly rises and falls in the bottle.

Secret: The pencil is made to move with the aid of a very fine thread.

Props: A pencil, a vase or bottle and a fine thread.

Preparation: A very fine nylon or black cotton thread or even a long human hair (18 inches to 24 inches in length) is tied, taped or applied with wax to one end of the pencil. The other end is tied to a button on the magician's clothing.

Presentation: Drop the pencil (thread end first) into the bottle or vase (see illustration). By moving slightly away from the table the thread will become tight and, on command, the pencil will either rise or fall, depending on your movements.

Ring Of Deception

Effect: A bangle passes on to a length of rope tied securely to your wrists.

Secret: You need two identical bangles and a long piece of soft rope. Secretly put one of the bangles on your arm, hidden under your coat sleeves. Have two spectators tie each end of the rope around your wrists. Show the bangle to ensure that it is solid. Turn your back, quickly pull the secret bangle down your sleeve on to the rope and hide the bangle just shown in an inside pocket. Turn back to face the audience and show the bangle tied on the rope.

Ring On

Effect: A ring is magically threaded on a string.

Secret: Place the string and ring supplied on a table, together with a safety pin and a handkerchief. Cover the string, ring and pin with the handkerchief. Allow the ends of the string to remain visible at all times. Place your hands beneath the handkerchief and push the centre of the string through the ring. Open the pin then close it so it goes around the right side of the loop and the rest of the string (see figure 1). Put your left forefinger into the loop (see figure 2). Remove your right hand and lift up the right end of the string and ask someone to hold it. At the same time move your left hand along the string (keeping your finger in the loop) until you reach the end. Remove the handkerchief and show that the ring and pin are now on the string (see figure 3).

Ring And String

Effect: A ring threaded onto a loop is released, although a spectator is holding the string.

Secret: Read PREPARATION carefully to see how you can solve this puzzle.

Props: Any ring and one cord.

Preparation: Get someone to help you practice this item before presenting it. Tie one piece of cord into a loop (circle). Slide the ring onto one end of the loop. Have your friend hold up his fingers. Put each end of the loop over one finger (see figure 1) but not too tight. Take a section of this cord and make another loop over the finger on the other side of the ring (see figure 2). Be sure you put the second loop below the first loop on the finger. Take the original loop and carefully lift it above the finger (see figure 3). Tell the holder to tighten up on the cord. As he does, you let go of your loop. The ring will fall free even though the string is still on his fingers. You will have to practice this a number of times before you can expect to do it smoothly.

Reverse Loops

Effect: A cord, coiled around a magic wand or pencil and tied through a ring, is pulled free of the wand and yet the ring remains securely tied.

Secret: As you wind on the cord, you secretly reverse the direction.

Props: A magic wand or pencil, a ring and a length of cord.

Preparation: Practise coiling the cord around the wand until you can do it without hesitation.

Presentation: Take the cord and wind it around the magic wand in one direction for the loops then stop as if counting the loops with the first finger of the hand that is holding the wand. Leave the tip of the finger on the wand, just past the third loop (see illustration). Then add three more loops but in the reverse direction. Practise this carefully and try to get the ends of the cords to hang down about the same lengths. Cover all of the loops with your free hand, now have someone tie a ring to the two loose ends of the cord. As you say a magic word, have him pull straight down and the cord will come free from the wand.

Red Or Black?

Effect: From a pack of cards spread face down on a table, you are able to tell which are red cards and which are black.

Secret: First separate the reds from the blacks. Bend all the red cards upwards. Bend all the black cards downwards. Mix the cards together. Spread all the cards face down on your table. Throw them down haphazardly and then invite a spectator to mix them up even more, so it is obvious they are not in any special order. Ask people to point to different cards and you can tell them if they are red or black by the way they bend.

Quick Tie Handkerchiefs

Effect: Two handkerchiefs are thrown in the air where they knot themselves together.

Secret: Apart from the two handkerchiefs, all you need for this trick is a small elastic band hidden in your right hand. Pick up one of the handkerchiefs with your left hand and place it in the right. As you do so, push a corner of the handkerchief into the elastic band. Do exactly the same with the second handkerchief. Throw the two handkerchiefs into the air and catch one of them as they descend. The elastic band holds the two handkerchiefs together and they appear to be knotted.