making hidden ascii stereograms

.............................................
A Method of creating Hidden Ascii Stereograms
.............................................

 Ohex@   X   Ohex@   X   Ohex@   X   Ohex@   X   Ohex@   X   Ohex@
   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O
 O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @
    O  @   X    O  @   X    O  @   X  O    @   X  O    @   X  O
 X  O  @     X  O  @     X  O  @   X  O  @     X  O  @     X  O  @
X   O    @  X   O    @  X   O  @   X  O   @  X    O   @  X    O   @
X     O @   X     O @   X   O  @   X  O   @   X O     @   X O     @
  X  O  @     X  O  @   X   O  @   X  O   @   X  O  @     X  O  @
  X   O @     X   O @   X   O  @   X  O   @   X O   @     X O   @
  X  O   @    X  O   @  X   O  @   X  O   @  X   O  @    X   O  @
  X  O   @    X  O   @  X   O   @ X   O   @  X   O  @    X   O  @
  X  O   @    X  O   @  X   O   @ X   O   @  X   O  @    X   O  @
  X  O   @    X  O   @  X   O  @   X  O   @  X   O  @    X   O  @
  X   O @     X   O @   X   O  @   X  O   @   X O   @     X O   @
  X  O  @     X  O  @   X   O  @   X  O   @   X  O  @     X  O  @
X     O @   X     O @   X   O  @   X  O   @   X O     @   X O     @
X   O    @  X   O    @  X   O  @   X  O   @  X    O   @  X    O   @
 X  O  @     X  O  @     X  O  @   X  O  @     X  O  @     X  O  @
    O  @   X    O  @   X    O  @   X  O    @   X  O    @   X  O
 X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O
   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O   @   X   O
 XmjlO   @   XmjlO   @   XmjlO   @   XmjlO   @   XmjlO   @   XmjlO


-----------------------------------------------------------------

The first step is to create a template. I use 3 distinct characters
each separated by 3 spaces:

g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m


From here we can either raise characters against the background, or
cause them to recede. I will describe how to make them raise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


To bring a group of 3 adjacent characters forward is easy. It is just
a case of removing a space in the required place:

I have inserted a '<' where the space will be deleted:
                                   
                    x   *   @   x   *   @
g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e < m   g   e   m   g   e   m

The result:  
                    x   *   @  x   *   @
g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e  m   g   e   m   g   e   m 


This should make the letters m, g and e move forward when viewed
stereoscopically. The symbols above the letters help to make

this clearer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


The next step is to raise single characters. There is a technique for
doing this. I will show 2 methods (which are basically

the same) - method A and method B. First is method A.

Start with the template:

                *           *
g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m


I want to raise  the letters marked  '*' by bringing them closer
together. The result we are trying to achieve is this:

                *          *
g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g  e    m   g  e    m


In the following examples '<' will indicate deleting a space and '+'
will indicate adding a space:

Again.., starting with the template:

     g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m

next..

1)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g < e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
#)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m

2)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e + m   g   e   m   g   e   m
#)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g   e   m   g   e   m

Notice that step 2 creates a receding "shadow 'e' " (3 places to the
right of the raised one). We need to fix it:

3)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g < e + m   g   e   m
#)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g  e    m   g   e   m

The offending shadow has moved along another 3 places.. So repeat the
process until it disappears:

4)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g  e    m   g < e + m
#)   g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g  e    m   g  e    m


Giving the result shown at the beginning of this example.
-----------------------------------------------------------------


There is another way of getting much the same result - by moving in
the opposite direction. This is method B...

g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
              +   <

g   e   m   g    e  m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
  +   <

g    e  m   g    e  m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m


Like so. Now to compare the 2 results:
                           *           *
           g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
method A:  g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g  e    m   g  e    m
method B:  g    e  m   g    e  m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m


Notice that the 'e's are not quite in the same position. Method B has
given a raised 'e' slightly further to the right. This

can be fixed by simply removing a character....


method B:  g    e  m   g    e  m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
           <
method B:      e  m   g    e  m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m
method A:  g   e   m   g   e   m   g  e    m   g  e    m   g  e    m

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Using methods A and B in conjunction ( e.g. alternating between the
two) can help in creating more balanced or symmetrical stereograms.

To make characters recede is the same methods but in reverse..

Have fun :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

     /|\        /|\         /|\        /|\         /|\        /|\
   Michael    Michael     Michael    Michael     Michael    Michael
  <  002  >  <  002  >   <  002  >  <  002  >   <  002  >  <  002  >
   Michael    Michael     Michael    Michael     Michael    Michael
     \|/        \|/         \|/        \|/         \|/        \|/
e    m  g   e    m  g   e    m  g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g
 e   m  g    e   m  g    e   m  g   e   m  g    e   m  g    e   m  g
 e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m  g   e   m  g   e    m  g   e    m  g
 e    m  g   e    m  g   e   m  g   e   m  g   e   m   g   e   m   g
 e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m  g   e   m  g   e    m  g   e    m  g
 e   m  g    e   m  g    e   m  g   e   m  g    e   m  g    e   m  g
e    m  g   e    m  g   e    m  g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g
e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g   e   m   g

   magic3d    magic3d     magic3d    magic3d     magic3d    magic3d

Related ASCII art in the Gallery

Explore these categories from our collection of 11,000+ artworks:

  __      _
o'')}____//
 `_/      )
 (_(_/-(_/

[>====]

   ))
 .-#-----.
/_________\
 |[] _ []|
 |  |*|  |

  ,  ,  , , ,
 <(__)> | | |
 | \/ | \_|_/
 \^  ^/   |
 /\--/\  /|
/  \/  \/jgs

     /| __________
O|==|* >__________>
     \|

(    )
|\^^/|
(0::0)
 \\// 
 (oo) 
/ \/ \

Make your own ASCII art

Turn images, text or 3D into ASCII, or draw your own – right in your browser.