How do I view a stereogram?

Let's start with a simple eye exersize. Look at the wall just to the right or left of your computer monitor. When you focus on the wall you will see two monitors. When you focus on your monitor you will see two walls. Now for the exercise, switch focus back and forth between the monitor and the wall a few times. That's the eye motion you need to view a stereogram.

Look at the sterogram below and you will notice the pattern repeats somewhat from left to right.  All sterogams have a repeating horizontal pattern, that's what makes them work.  If the picture did not contain a hidden image, the pattern would repeat exactly across the page.  The hidden image is contained in the errors as the pattern is repeated.

Ok, enough background info, here's how you view the hidden image. Find some feature that you can recognize in two adjacent patterns. Look half way between the two features. Now look through the monitor at the wall behind, work with me here. You should see two copies of the stereogram that move from side to side as your focus point moves. Here's the tricky part. Adjust your focus point to slide the images around until the two adjacent patterns line up. I find that tilting my head slightly back and forth helps. Maybe my head isn't screwed on straight. When the patterns line up your brain will lock on and see one pattern.  The differences in the two patterns are interprited by your brain as 3D information, revealing the hidden image.

Now that you're an expert, you can buy a couple of posters and impress all of your friends.