What does stereogram mean?
A stereogram is an image that gives the viewer the impression of three dimensions. It may be produced using stereoscopic viewing methods, in which separate images for the left and right eyes are combined, or it may be a specially encoded flat picture whose repeated patterns conceal a depth scene. Such images became widely associated with visual puzzles and 'magic-eye' pictures, which reveal a hidden object when viewed or focused in the correct way. The word is also used in technical contexts for displays and systems intended to present spatial information. Its appeal lies in the surprise of discovering depth within an image that initially appears flat and visually complex. A stereogram should not be confused with a hologram: although both can suggest three-dimensional imagery, they rely on different optical and recording principles.
nounA picture or image that appears three-dimensional when viewed with the appropriate technique or device. The term is also used for a flat image containing an encoded depth pattern that creates the illusion of a three-dimensional scene.
- A picture or display that presents an image with the appearance of three dimensions.
- A flat image, often made from repeating patterns, that produces a three-dimensional illusion when viewed in a prescribed way.
"The stereogram appeared to show a small rabbit sitting inside the tangled lines."
"Looking at the stereogram through the viewer, she saw a globe floating above the background."
"The exhibition includes several stereograms designed to test the visitor's perception of depth."
The plural is used when referring to multiple stereograms or examples of the form.
"The museum displays stereograms that reveal different objects when viewed from different angles."
A stereogram can hide a three-dimensional image inside an apparently flat pattern, turning a sheet of tangled lines into a tiny visual surprise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stereogram come from?
The word combines stereo-, derived from Greek stereos, meaning solid or three-dimensional, with -gram, from Greek gramma, meaning a written or drawn mark. The combination was developed in the mid-20th century as a general term for images presenting three-dimensional effects. Its specialized association with patterned images containing concealed depth developed through stereoscopic and visual-puzzle traditions.
How stereogram is actually used
The word is relatively specialized and is most often used for images that create three-dimensional effects through encoded depth cues or stereoscopic viewing. In contemporary usage, it often refers specifically to a flat image intended to be viewed with a particular method rather than to every image with a three-dimensional appearance.
Easily confused with stereogram
A stereogram conveys a three-dimensional illusion through an encoding or viewing technique, whereas a hologram uses a photographic or interference-based process to preserve three-dimensional information.