Patent ID: 8267520

Claim:
A method of generating a three-dimensional aerial optical effect comprising: providing a single source for generating an image wherein said single source is depicted on a two-dimensional surface and has an outer boundary, and includes an object-source and a canvas-source, and wherein said object-source is generally centered on said two-dimensional surface within said outer boundary and wherein said canvas-source completely surrounds said object-source and has an outer boundary common to said outer boundary of said single source; providing an imager suitable for forming a two-dimensional image of said single source visible to a binocular human observer, including an object-image and a canvas-image, wherein said object-image and said canvas-image are formed on the same two-dimensional surface; and positioning said single source, said imager, and said binocular human observer such that said object-image is fully visible to said binocular human observer while said canvas-image is only partially visible to said binocular human observer, wherein said outer boundary of said canvas-source is obscured from said binocular human observer, and wherein said binocular human observer perceives said object-image as being closer than said canvas-image.