Anamorphic Art

Pictures that only work from one angle

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Anamorphic images are distorted so they look right from one viewpoint.
• Viewing at a shallow angle $\theta$ squashes lengths by $\sin\theta$.
• Road markings and pavement art use anamorphosis.

Steps

1. The hidden skull
2. How long should the letters be?
3. Make it look square
4. A driver’s view
5. Mirror anamorphosis
6. Pavement illusions