The Incredible Shade Illusion!

Just Dave

Just Dave

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Hi

just seen this The Incredible Shade Illusion! on Strobist blog If you have seen the "static" version of this illusion AND you understand why it is effective in the first place, then you ought to be REALLY impressed by this "real life" demo

[YOUTUBE]z9Sen1HTu5o[/YOUTUBE]​

Dave
 
That's always a good one and having it as a video works well.
 
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jonhowell said:
How does that work? In simple terms!
Click to expand...

Quote from youtube

Look closely at the shadow cast by the cylinder and you actually see two distinct shadows. One is cast by the relatively weak beauty dish and the other is painted or printed on the checker surface. since that area is also in full light (via the large softbox) the interpretation of the different tonal values is all in your head. There is no Photoshop or After Effects at work here, just good, old fashioned brain trickery!

dave
 
But the dark square next to the one she moves is darker, you can see the difference when she moves it over, so it's clever but not a trick of light but carefully painted squares.
 
swanseamale47 said:
But the dark square next to the one she moves is darker, you can see the difference when she moves it over, so it's clever but not a trick of light but carefully painted squares.
Click to expand...

:thumbs: yep painted shadows clever aint it, trick of the eye :thumbs:
 
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It's all about relative tonal values, something artists have been aware of for centuries to create the illusion of light in their paintings.
 
towershot said:
I'm afraid it does not take much to trick my brain these day's Dave...:thinking::(
Click to expand...

:lol: Rick

artyman said:
It's all about relative tonal values, something artists have been aware of for centuries to create the illusion of light in their paintings.
Click to expand...

Yeah your right, one of the first things I learned when painting :thumbs:
 
:thumbs:

I've only ever seen the flat 2-dimensional image of this and always found it quite easy to pick out the same tones. The 3-D version certainly makes it a far more effective trick.

artyman said:
It's all about relative tonal values, something artists have been aware of for centuries to create the illusion of light in their paintings.
Click to expand...

Also a handy tip when decorating. You can use that trick to totally change the feel of a living space and create light and shadow where you want it.

We have a very big, entrance hall but the stairs sort of curve away from it and as they get no natural light that part of the house always looked dark and dingy.
I've painted the hallway in a pale, soft green and the staircase wall in the same green but about 4/5 shades lighter (almost white with a 'hint of'). To the untrained eye it looks like the whole area is painted a consistent colour, but gives the illusion of the staircase wall being bathed in beautiful soft light. It's really brightened up that part of the house.
 
Hi Sarah

Ive only ever seen it in 2 di, so I thought others would be interested as well,

Its amazing what tones can do we once had a dark room and did a similar thing to what you have done, works well, :thumbs:
 
This is a neat bit of trickery but I have to admit I have no idea what you lot are on about :-S
 
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