Optical Illusion...thoughts, comments

[flashback]

Are the pairs recessed, or raised?

[rtbaum]

I have always loved this type of optical illusion; CiC has corrupted me into paying attention to the lighting. Based on reflected light off edges, it is raised

[pnodrog]

They look recessed to me but I am told I am wrong at least 50% of the time and don't get it right for the rest. The highlight along the edge is a worry though.

P.S. It looks like it may have been embossed and the compression has caused a sheen on the materials surface - then again?

[Snowy55]

When I first look at it they actually appear recessed and I have to force myself to think of them as raised. Then it looks right.

[dje]

When I first look at it they actually appear recessed and I have to force myself to think of them as raised. Then it looks right.

Exactly the same with me Barry. When I can see them as raised, I am convinced that this is how they actually are.

Looks like the light is coming from about 45 deg.

Dave

[Andrew76]

I'm lost. I can't see them as raised no matter how hard I try.

[Snowy55]

Exactly the same with me Barry. When I can see them as raised, I am convinced that this is how they actually are.

Looks like the light is coming from about 45 deg.

Dave

I'm glad I'm not the only one Dave.

[Ryan10]

Took me a minute. They are raised. Very nice job.

[Snowy55]

I'm lost. I can't see them as raised no matter how hard I try.

Maybe it is because you are in the northern hemisphere.

[pnodrog]

If they are raised and assuming even directional lighting then the top surface material is darker than the base material provided we are not looking at a negative or a tone mapped image. The base material looks more worn/uneven than the recessed or raised material. Very hard to get wear on a recessed surface. It may of course be polish on a raised surface but I will stick to recessed.

[Stagecoach]

Raised, answer based upon the shadows.

[TonyW]

I am with Andrew. I can only see them recessed. Then the shadows are sharper at the edge that causes them than on the surface where they land.

[MrB]

The highlights indicate that they must be raised.

Philip

[Donald]

Maybe it is because you are in the northern hemisphere.

I am with Andrew. I can only see them recessed.

Nope, it's happening to southern hemisphere folks as well.

I'm with those who wrote about seeing them recessed upon the immediate first view. But then that changed and I now can't see them recessed at all. And since I'm on the north-western fringes of Europe, I must be right!

[TonyW]

After a glass of wine and dinner, they are now raised. They are shiny on top from having been driven on.

[flashback]

I duuno...does this help?

[allenlennon]

at first i thought it was recessed, but when i read the first comment from randy i could easily see it is raised.

[Andrew76]

Looks like I should take Tony's advice, and drink more wine.

[arith]

At first I couldn't manage it but then I knew it must be raised for drainage and eventually I saw it.

[flashback]

Perhaps if you look at the second picture in lightbox, and then click for full screen, that may help.