Only 3D brains can spot the camel in this optical illusion

Can you see through the camel-flage?

Another day another wildlife safari for the eyes: In this animal-based optical illusion, viewers are challenged to spot the camel within the spectrum of colors.

“What is it?” reads the caption to the visual jigsaw, which was posted to TikTok Monday by Magic Eye, which apparently inspired by the 1990s optical illusion books of the same name.

On its face, this brain teaser appears to depict a kaleidoscope of random pigments, like some abstract subway tile mural, with the dromedary seemingly nowhere in sight.

Still can’t get over the (double) hump with this illusion? Take one more look before the big reveal.

[Warning: Spoilers below]

The trick is to hold the screen close to one’s face and slowly move it away, whereupon the camel will become visible. That’s because the illusion is an autostereogram, “two-dimensional (2D) images with repeating patterns that hide an underlying three-dimensional (3D) image,” according to Vision and Eye Health.

“When you look at an autostereogram, your brain initially sees repeating 2D patterns from both eyes,” the site explains. “This is because your brain automatically focuses on the image itself.”

They add, “When you are able to focus your eyes behind the 2D pattern, your eyes start to look at the pattern at a slightly different angle. At this point, your stereopsis kicks in and your brain is able to construct the 3D image at a depth different to that of the 2D pattern.”

It’s also perhaps a parable for taking things into context and observing problems from different perspectives when the solution is not initially clear.

In a similar autosterogram from last week, viewers were challenged to find the number hidden this veritable Jackson Pollock painting of pixels.