Introduction: The Illusion of Confusion

Picture of The Illusion of Confusion

Illusions can be downright freaky at times. Here's a tutorial on a baffling perspective illusion! This drawing is hard to believe until the proof is shown.

There is no way that the 2 thick, black lines are the same height, right? Let's look a little further into it and see.

Here's a video that showcases and explains the full effect of the illusion:

Step 1: Materials

Picture of Materials

You will need:

1) A piece of 8.5 x 11 paper(cut to 8.5" x 8.5")
2) Ruler
3) Pen
4) Two crayons or colored pencils(preferably orange and yellow)

Step 2: Beginning the Drawing

Picture of Beginning the Drawing

-Cut your paper to size (8.5" x 8.5")

-Draw a 3" vertical line 1" in from the left side of the paper, with the bottom of the line starting 2.75" up from the bottom of the paper. Make the line very bold.

-Draw an identical 3" vertical line 6" in from the left side of the paper, with the bottom of the line starting 2.75" up from the bottom of the paper. Make this line very bold as well.

As you can see from the photo, it looks almost impossible for these two aforementioned lines to be the same height!

Step 3: Finishing the Drawing

Picture of Finishing the Drawing

-Use the photo below as a guide for drawing the rest of the picture.
This picture is worth a thousand words, and is a drawing that you can look at and duplicate yourself.

-Color the drawing as shown with crayons or colored pencils. The coloring helps to "sell" the illusion more than just a black and white version.

-The "grid" effect shown on the walls provides for a sense and feeling of depth in the drawing. This also "sells" the illusion well!

Step 4: Proving the Illusion

Picture of Proving the Illusion

I recommend that you have a ruler or other measuring device handy when showing this to others. They probably won't believe you until you show them the actual measurements of the two lines in question. The back of a business card, for instance, works great as shown! :)


Cru2o (author)2009-10-05

Really awesome! 5/5

greeenpro (author)Cru2o2009-10-05

Excellent! Thank you so much.

BOOM5601 (author)2009-09-02

I like it. 5.

greeenpro (author)BOOM56012009-09-02

Thanks very much!

Cznech101 (author)2009-02-19

wow, just wow, this is amazing! I was like, WHAT THE HECK!? until he measured it, oh wow, best illusion evur, 5 for u

greeenpro (author)Cznech1012009-02-20

that comment made the time spent on this ible worth it..thanks very much!

Rob K (author)2009-02-18

very interesting. I would have to go with nepheron on that one.

theatre_tech_guru (author)2009-02-17

my brain hurts

nepheron (author)2009-01-16

That's awesome! 5 stars for you!

jakee117 (author)2008-10-17

woah... that is wild

greeenpro (author)jakee1172008-10-17

Isn't that insane?

jakee117 (author)greeenpro2008-10-18


ventsi (author)2008-10-17

good perspective work

greeenpro (author)ventsi2008-10-18

Great, thanks ventsi.

ChappyShowcase (author)2008-10-17

This was excellent man

greeenpro (author)ChappyShowcase2008-10-18

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

brandom741 (author)2008-10-17

great vid. 5*

greeenpro (author)brandom7412008-10-18

Hopefully the video helps to further show the confusing nature of the illusion. Thank you!

gagfilms (author)2008-10-17

Very cool!

greeenpro (author)gagfilms2008-10-17