Optical Illusions

Y & B Associates

There are many optical illusions decks, and some might be said to be more visually appealing than this one. But I chose this one mostly because it had all the classic illusions, laid out in an orderly and unpretentious manner. It brings the field together without needing to clothe it in bright colors and mystery. Still, for all the decks that are out there, there is one common facet that joins most of them together: they're published by Y and B Associates.

Y and B seem to have backed into the playing card market almost by accident. They have a number of books on optical illusions, and these decks were conceived to go with the books. I can't say why they did that, but I'm certainly glad they did. I have three of their sets of cards, and I eagerly await the next ones they might print.

Anyway, here you will find all the classical illusions, from bending squares by putting them on angled backgrounds to making circles appear at the intersections of angular shaped. You'll find things that seem to turn, things that make colors appear and disappear, objects that are and are not the same size and shape, and legs and columns of simultaneously three and two parts. Every illusion you were presented with as a novelty or curiosity in school is here. The mechanisms are not discussed at all, but the sharp mind, along with the keen eye, will begin to see the tremendous work your brain does to keep up with your eyes, and where, with a little work, you can make the brain make mistakes.

All images © 1987 Y and B Associates, Inc., presented here solely for analysis and appreciation.