| An anamorphic image is a 2-dimensional image that is skewed and stretched in a manner that creates an unrecognizable image when seen normally, but when viewed from a precise point in space comes together as a recognizable image. The technique has been used for centuries, in Renaissance paintings and today even as street art. |
This anamorphic image is of a cat begging for food. The image is instantly recognizable and familiar to the viewer. The original image was taken from average human height, therefore the anamorphic image becomes correct at a person's natural eye level. From the incorrect viewing area, the image is elongated and distorted, possibly bothering passersby. From the ideal point, however, the image comes together and is recognizable, but the subject is still a nuisance to the viewer. |
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view rasterbation of this image (pdf) |
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view from ideal point |
view from side |
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| Although the anamorphosis of the image was technically successful, the results were not as impressive as they could have been. The errors lie in the original anamorphosis of the image. Because the angle of skew was relatively mild, the ideal point-of-view was fairly close to the blown up image. This created a photograph taken from almost directly above the image. Only the print-out and the ground--as well as ceiling light reflections--were visible, creating a less than ideal flat image. The image would be more remarkable if the environment demonstrated perspective so that the flat cat image would stand out against its surroundings. |