Creating Custom Stereograms

Stereograms are a highly effective marketing tool. Stereograms are fascinating and engaging and draw the viewer into the picture to find the hidden image which is often your logo or a simple word or two.

Stereograms can be used effectively on Web sites, in advertisements, direct mail pieces, brochures, catalogs, post cards, posters, and more.  To view a selection of our previous projects, please follow this link.

We’d be happy to look at your logo and tell you if it can be hidden effectively in a Stereogram.  E-mail us your logo and tell what you have in mind and we’ll let you know how well we think it will work and discus prices for your project.

For more information or to request a quote, please visit
Eyetricks 3D Stereograms

Different Kinds of Stereograms

The most common form of Stereogram is called a SIRD (Single Image Random Dots). This kind of Stereogram looks like an area filled with a random pattern of dots. We sometimes create a modified version of the SIRD in which the dots are colored.

The kind of Stereogram image we prefer to create, and the kind which requires more time, skill, and craftsmanship is called a repeating pattern or wallpaper Stereogram. Repeating pattern Stereograms use a custom designed repeating panel in which portions of the image are hidden. How this process works is explained in the next section.

Another kind of Stereogram uses floating groups of objects. The spacing between the floating objects determines the depth of the objects. The further apart the objects are spaced, the more the farther back they appear. Floating object Stereograms are easy to see because the floating objects are recognizable at once. This kind of Stereogram is also good for featuring complex logos that will not display effectively in a hidden image Stereogram.

We often like to do a hybrid Stereogram using floating and hidden images. This creates a multidimensional Stereogram. Our special transparency technique makes the floating object look almost as if they are glowing and adds an element of mystery to the object.

How Stereograms Work

Hidden image Stereograms require a depth map, a black and white image that is used to determine the height and depth of the hidden image. White comes forward the most while black recedes the most. And the other shades of gray fall somewhere in-between.

Unlike a black and white photograph in which shades of gray are used to give shape to an object, Stereograms work on planes or layers. An image is sliced from front to back into 256 layers. The depth map is interpreted by our special Stereogram software to create the hidden image.

The kinds of Stereograms that we like to create, and the ones that are the most colorful and engaging require a second image. This second image is a repeating panel Stereogram and is often referred to as wallpaper Stereogram because the same panel repeats a number of time across the image, like wallpaper, and helps to draw the viewer into the image as well as hide sections of the image. This panel repeats anywhere from two to six or more times. Subtle shifts in the wallpaper’s pattern are not apparent to the viewer but are perceived by the brain which reassembles the subtle patterns into the hidden 3D object.

Our proprietary Stereogram creation software uses sophisticated algorithms to translate the information from the depth map, and place it invisibly in the repeating panels. The final result looks like an image in which each panel is the same. But the subtle variations of the pattern are what produce the hidden 3D image. Creating effective depth maps and wallpaper patterns is not a automated process. Each project presents it’s own unique challenges which we must painstakingly overcome through a process of trial and error. A good Stereogram can take as long as a week to create.

What works and what does not work in a Stereogram

Not everything works in a Stereogram. The general rule of thumb is simple is better. Size is important too. The larger the Stereogram image, the better the chances are of the hidden image being seen. A 7 inch wide Stereogram will view better than a 4 inch Stereogram. A 24 inch wide poster is better still. The reason for this is larger images allow for more detail and thus the image is more apparent and “pops out” better.

Photographs or products and portraits do not work unless in profile. This is because unlike a black and white photograph which uses shades of gray to render the object, and can also use shadows and other visual cues to help you see the image and its subtleties, 3D images hidden in Stereograms can only have the illusion of depth. No subtle shading and no shadows. Slogans and other text are very tricky as well and unless the text is very short, one or two words, three at the most, chances are it will not be readable and the Stereogram will not be successful.

Will Your Logo Work Effectively as a Stereogram?

The best way to find out is to send it to us and let us examine it and tell you if we think it can work effectively or not. If necessary we may do some quick experiments to determine the logo or image’s effectiveness. Send us your logo, or describe your project and let us see if we can do it and tell you what it will cost.

For more information or to request a quote, please visit
Eyetricks 3D Stereograms