Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion

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This Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion creates the appearance of motion as a simple pattern is moved across the top of another.

A Moiré pattern illusion is a visual phenomenon that occurs when two or more semi-transparent or repetitive patterns are overlaid or placed in close proximity to one another, creating a new pattern with a different appearance. The resulting pattern often appears to move, shimmer, or vibrate, even though the underlying patterns are static.

If you are interested in learning more about how this Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion works, scroll down to read more about it.

Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion
Artist: Kathleen Darby


Table of Contents

What is the Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion?

The Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion is created using a Moiré pattern which is a visual phenomenon that occurs when two or more semi-transparent or repetitive patterns are overlaid or placed in close proximity to one another, creating a new pattern with a different appearance. The resulting pattern often appears to move, shimmer, or vibrate, even though the underlying patterns are static.

Moiré patterns can occur in a variety of contexts, from digital images to physical objects. For example, when two screens with slightly different grid patterns are overlaid, a Moiré pattern may appear. Similarly, if a photograph of a fine mesh or grid pattern is printed on paper with another fine mesh or grid pattern, a Moiré pattern may also appear.

Moiré patterns can be used intentionally in design and art to create interesting visual effects, but they can also be a nuisance or a distraction, particularly in digital images or in printed materials that use fine patterns.

How does the Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion?

The Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion works using a Moiré patterns which is created by the interference of two or more repetitive patterns that are not perfectly aligned. When the patterns are overlaid or placed close together, the peaks and valleys of the patterns can either amplify or cancel each other out, resulting in a new pattern with a different frequency and appearance.

This interference can be understood through the concept of spatial frequency. The spatial frequency of a pattern refers to the number of cycles (repetitions) per unit of distance. When two patterns with different spatial frequencies are overlaid or placed close together, they can interfere with each other to create a Moiré pattern with a different spatial frequency.

For example, consider two grid patterns with slightly different spacings. When these grids are overlaid, some of the lines will line up perfectly, while others will be slightly offset. This creates a new pattern with a different spatial frequency that appears to move or vibrate when the grids are moved or viewed from different angles.

Moiré patterns can also be created by the interference of non-repetitive patterns, such as curved lines or irregular shapes. In this case, the interference is based on the differences in shape and orientation of the patterns rather than their spatial frequency.

Some Similar Illusions

There are several visual illusions that are similar to Moiré patterns and the Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion in that they involve the interference of two or more patterns. Some of these illusions include:

  1. Op Art: Op Art (short for optical art) is a style of art that creates visual illusions through the use of repetitive patterns, such as lines or shapes. Like Moiré patterns, Op Art can create the illusion of movement or depth.
  2. Kinetic Art: Kinetic art is a form of art that involves movement or the illusion of movement. Some kinetic art pieces use repetitive patterns to create the illusion of motion or changing shapes.
  3. Anamorphic Art: Anamorphic art is a type of art that appears distorted when viewed from certain angles but resolves into a recognizable image when viewed from a specific viewpoint. Anamorphic art often uses repetitive patterns or grids to create the illusion of distortion.

Overall, these visual illusions demonstrate the power of perception and the ways in which our brains interpret and process visual information.

Discovery of the Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion

Moiré patterns were first observed and described by French scientist, mathematician, and astronomer, Siméon Denis Poisson, in 1824. Poisson was studying the diffraction of light through a regular grid or mesh when he noticed the appearance of an unexpected pattern caused by the interference of the grid lines. He called this pattern “interference figures” or “Poisson’s figures”.

The term “Moiré” was later coined to describe similar patterns that were created when two different patterns were overlaid or placed in close proximity to one another. The term “Moiré” comes from the French word for “watered silk”, which has a similar rippling appearance.

Since Poisson’s discovery, Moiré patterns have been studied and applied in various fields, including physics, optics, engineering, art, and design. Today, they continue to fascinate researchers and artists alike as a fascinating example of the complex interaction between light, pattern, and perception.


References and Resources

In addition to the Flying Bird Moiré Pattern Illusion, check out our complete list of illusions.