Many optical devices have been incorporated into books down the years. Perhaps the most famous 19th century example is 'Le Motographe Album d'Images Animées' (with cover said to have been designed by Toulous-Lautrec) published by Clarke et Cie in Paris in 1899. A finely-drawn grid printed on cellophane is moved across a steel engraving, also drawn using parallel lines. The resulting moiré patterns create a surprising sense of movement. (See demonstration below)
Later novelties sought stereoscopic effects by means of special coloured glasses. There have also been several attempts to achieve moving pictures by overprinting drawings in different tints intended to be viewed thorough alternating coloured lenses, producing simple animations. Mirrors, lenticular panels, fluorescent inks and holograms are sometimes used in present-day books to heighten the illusion of depth and movement.
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mouse over each number to animate
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OTHER OPTICAL-EFFECT BOOKS TO LOOK OUT FOR
• 'Cinderella Magic Wand Book', Dean & Son, London, 1950
• Tim Armstrong's 'Making Moving Patterns', Tarquin Publications, UK, 1982 (many reprints)
• 'Eye Magic', Artists and Writers Guild, NY, 1994
• Dorling Kindersley's 'Eyewitness' 3D nature series, London, 1998