# Weird optical illusion (photo I took) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** photo\ **Created:** [April 18, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357 "2026-04-18T03:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/21 "2026-04-18T19:22:51Z")
That third dot inside the bottom of the 5 throws it off a bit. If your mind reads it as a divot then the shadow it casts makes the number look raised to match the shadow. If your mind reads it as a raised bump then the shadow it casts makes the number look sunk. Which is all the more confusing because the nailhead bumps cast opposite shadows of the divot. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/22 "2026-04-19T01:28:28Z")
Nice find! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/23 "2026-04-19T01:59:12Z")
This phenomenon is just like the moon crater illusion referenced by @Darren_Garrison upthread. Except, somehow, different. The moon crater illusions have always been consistent for me, depending on the specific image. I kept looking at this thing, and finally copying it into Photoshop and flipping it upside down and sideways, and all I could ever see was the “5” as a surface elevation. I was going to post about how I was the only one apparently seeing it as a surface elevation, but then I got distracted and went on to other things. Late at night, I happened to look at the image again, and it absolutely looked the opposite – now it was distinctly recessed, and remained so no matter how I looked at it! Weird indeed. Makes me wonder if one’s state of mind – for example, tiredness due to lack of sleep – can influence that perception, in the same way that auditory pareidolia can occur due to lack of sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/24 "2026-04-19T02:03:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Except, somehow, different. The moon crater illusions have always been consistent for me, depending on the specific image. Take a look at the second example I posted, with the plastic plates. It is probably closer to the letter. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/25 "2026-04-19T02:19:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Take a look at the second example I posted, with the plastic plates. For me, that one is absolutely consistent, like the moon craters – it’s a projection or depression depending on how the image is flipped. The OP image is not like that – it’s either one or the other – I’ve distinctly seen it both ways and I have no idea what determines how I see it! 😲 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/26 "2026-04-19T07:02:16Z")
Jerry Andrus was known for illusions like this. [Jerry Andrus - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Andrus) He designed a paper cutout you can make (not identical, but similar): [https://www.gathering4gardner.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3D-dragon.pdf](https://www.gathering4gardner.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3D-dragon.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/27 "2026-04-19T07:31:28Z")
Nitpick: that page says that the dragon cutout was designed by a team inspired by Andrus, not that it was designed by Andrus himself. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/28 "2026-04-19T11:02:54Z")
Andrus’ dragon illusion has been presented in different colors, with different credits and logos. On Phil Plait’s page (The Bad Astronomer) it says “Created by Jerry Andrus.” I think it has been adapted by many. To see more, on Google’s Image Search page [https://images.google.com/](https://images.google.com/) try using the terms “Andrus Dragon.” ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/29 "2026-04-20T19:37:10Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > As it should be, it’s a really nice door! Bravo. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357/30 "2026-04-20T19:49:10Z")
Interesting. No matter how I look at it, I can’t see it as anything but stamped ( sunken) rather than embossed. I can usually flip these things in my mind at will. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-optical-illusion-photo-i-took/1029357.md?page=1)