Dave Kay's
Tracking Page
Track Image Processing: Print Awareness: Debris
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I'm experimenting with some photographic and computer-processed
images that help make tracks stand out. Here's the first one of
my experimental images, and how it works:
There are two images below that work sort of like the "magic"
dot-pattern images you may have seen in shopping malls or in books.
You have to play funny tricks with your eyeballs to see the "magic,"
and the tricks take some practice.
The basic idea is to get your brain to create a combined image
from the two images. To do this, you will need to cross your eyes
slightly.
- First, maximize your browser window to fill the screen, and
view your screen at arm's length.
- If you already know how to cross your eyes, just stare at
the image and gradually increase the "crossness"; gradually,
the two tree trunks will align. Important: When
that happens, tell your brain that the combined image in the middle
is the "real" one, and gaze at it for a while. Slowly,
your brain should accept that image. You will see areas of the
image that "dance" or "pop up" slightly. These
are my tracks! They wind from the lower left of the image towards
the right side of the tree, and across in front of it. They are
strongest near the tree. If you don't know how to cross
your eyes, try the suggestions following the image.
- If you don't know how to cross your eyes, it will take a little
practice and perhaps a trick or two. The steps below might help:
- Hold your index finger at arm's length near the screen, vertically,
along the border between the two images.
- Keeping your eyes focused on the finger, slowly bring
the finger towards your face until it is about six inches from
your nose.
- You will notice two trees merging to form a single tree behind
your finger, but keep focusing on your finger. Slowly transfer
your focus to that single tree; if it splits, return your focus
to your finger and try again. Once you can focus on the single
tree, gaze at it for a while until your brain accepts it and it
stabilizes. Then slowly lower your hand. Ignore all the other
junk in your field of vision and focus on the one single, central
image. Keep trying until you can hold this image steady.
- You will see areas of the image that "dance" or
"pop up" slightly. These are my tracks! They wind from
the lower left of the image towards the right side of the tree
and across in front of it. They are strongest near the tree.
Copyright 1996, David C. Kay. All Rights Reserved.