Customer Reviews

Magic Eye Gallery: A Showing Of 88 Images

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

(3.5 stars) I've always been a huge fan of Magic Eye images, and I wanted to find a large collection that might keep several grandchildren busy and having fun during the winter holidays. This collection of 3D images, however, proved to be something of a disappointment. Though there are several hidden pictures that are clear and very professionally done (an image of football players and one of an eagle hunting, for example), about twenty-five percent of the images are either unclear, ill-defined, or uninteresting as subject matter.

Two "glass" images are simply the 3D version of the flat image. Five pages contain "no image" at all. Two mazes appear, but only one can be solved--the other has two dead ends at the beginning. Other questionable images include two jet planes with a target site superimposed, making the picture appear confused, a chariot race in which the chariot is unclear and the driver looks like a triangle; and Saturn with its rings where the bottom half of the planet is so hard to see, that the image look like a ranger's hat. Some images of little interest include those of yin and yang, a tapestry weave, an ugly cone, a cube, a car driven by a wolf, a ball seen through mesh, op art, symbols for male and female, four puzzle pieces, and penguins (not polar bears) in front of an igloo (?!?).

I really enjoy this series, but this selection was not interesting to my audience, who felt that many images were just too much work for an image of little interest. In total, I found fifty-seven of the eighty-eight images to be acceptable to good, and two are excellent. Thirty-one, which I marked in the corner so people could skip them, were inferior and detracted from what could have been a terrific collection. n Mary Whipple

This is kind of a "best of" compilation of their previous "magic eye" books -- but some of the 3-D images are really obscure. Even when I can see the image clearly, I can't figure out what it is. And even when I look at the back for the "key" to all the figures, I still don't know why they bothered! But it makes an interesting conversation piece. And it's pretty habit-forming. This is a really good book to have on hand for a party or anywhere you want to break the ice.

The "Magic Eye" 3D books have been consistent, entertaining and numerous but if you really want to see great 3D check out the 3D of Bohdan Petyhyrcz. In the "Another Dimension" line of 3D books, Bohdan takes the art form into a whole new range. Complete with facial features and tremendous detail.

This paticular 3D book was created with 88 images to complete with "Another Dimension" which has 87 images but the quality as usual cannot compete by a long shot.

The images in the book are cool and there are a lot of them, but sadly the book cannot take much handling-my copy of M.E.G. has about 3 pages that have detattached. I have other 3-d image books and they are hard cover with durable binding, which is very necessary since the book gets a lot of handling when people are trying to see the images especially for the 2 page spreads.

I'd have to agree with the above reviewer. The "Great" Bohdan has evolved 3D images beyond what Magic Eye offers. His exceptional use of detail brings the images to a point of realism. Unfortunately Another Dimension is out of print so you would have to check out 3-D Book of Angels or 3-D Bible Stories to see some of his advanced artwork. These 88 images by Magic Eye was another attempt to win the market with quantity over quality.

This book is packed with more images than any other I own, and more vivid colors. I have a lot of favorite pictures, and I love that there are varying degrees of difficulty and depth so theres something for everyone in this book. My only regret is that I cant frame a couple of them as abstract art on my walls. If your looking for an all inclusive book of Magic Eye visual art, this is definately my top choice and top recommendation.

Magic Eye Gallery: A Showing Of 88 Images
by N.E. Thing Enterprises

I am pleasantly surprised that this treasury of eighty-eight colourful random-dot stereograms is still around. The publisher is apparently the leading pioneer in this field. I thought the 'craze' had faded towards the end of the nineties.

Personally, I am also fascinated by random-dot stereograms. My first exposure to them happened when I attended the PhotoReading workshop in 1992 & then reading Andrew Kinsman's wonderful book, 'Random Dot Stereograms', about the same time. Besides books, I have also amassed a large collection of posters & post-cards in the same genre.

My personal stance towards random-dot stereograms is that they help to demonstrate the two specific phenomena of human perception i.e. binocular disparity & stereoscopic vision.

Although they are great fun to play with, I find them very educational in understanding - & appreciating - how the brain really works! In actuality, each of your two eye balls take in sensory data independently from each other. To see a random dot stereogram, your two eye balls must work together as a coordinated team to sustain a soft focus (or unfocused gaze). In other words, it takes two eye balls to tango!

For some people, random dot stereograms may be difficult to see (especially during the first attempt) when compared to conventional visual illusions found in 'Can You Believe Your Eyes' & 'Seeing Double' by J Richard Block respectively.

I often notice that many people can see the colourful random dot stereograms more readily than the black & white ones!

For your further visual entertainment, I would like to suggest the following collections, also published by N E Thing Enterprises:

- Magic Eye: A New Way of Looking at the World;
- Magic Eye Vol 2;
- Magic Eye Vol 3;
- Magic Eye: A New Bag of Tricks;

To conclude this review, I can only say that when you can readily see random dot stereograms, irrespective whether they are in colour or black & white, you will be able to understand & appreciate the power of 'splatter vision' practised by secret service agents, army snipers, fighter pilots, martial artists, fast readers, animal hunters & nature observers.

This book it TOTTALLY amazing. it has a hidden 3-d image inside a 3-d backaround. I do not even no how they do it without 3-d glasses. It is so easy to use to when you get used to it. later on you will just start starring into random pictures. You may think that is stupid but even though it sounds boring it, you will be sitting down starring at one picture for so long. You will love the stunning 3-d effects. I started getting into this by buying a 3-d spongebob book. It didn't include 3-d glasses so I borroed them. Then I tyhought myswell have some fun wlile I have the 3-d glasses so I searched the internet for pictures that need 3-d glasses. I found so much. Then I learned the cross eyed one. I get that one. Then i learned the parrelell trick. That was o.k. Then I found a wierd site in my search results. It said "magic eye". I looked at it. Then the next day I hatdto give the glasses back. I was sad. I looked at that site again [...] I noticed it did not need 3-d glasses and there was only one image of it instead of 2. I looked into it. I did not believe it at first. I thought it was fake. To see if i was right I printed one out. I looked at the directions. I got fustratted because I couldn't see it(it was saturn). right befor I was about to put it down I saw a big 3-d circle made of stars. Then a ring sorrounded it. I was amazed

I bought this for my 12 year old daughter as she is really into optical illusions. This has actually been something that the whole family has used and loved. Will be buying another in future.

Another great book with cool optical illusions. My 12 year old son really enjoys these books.