Optical Toys presents a collection of optical illusions and toys created by Tom's Toys.
Michaelbach
Michael Bach’s site presents 156 optical illusions and visual phenomena with interactive exploration and explanations.
About Michaelbach
Michaelbach is a website by Michael Bach that presents 156 optical illusions and visual phenomena. Each entry includes an explanation, and the site emphasises beauty, interactive experiments, and attempts to explain the underlying visual mechanisms where possible. The phenomena are grouped into sections, including motion and time and luminance, brightness, and contrast. The site states that it is intentionally free of adverts.
The author notes that some explanations are technical and may be hard to follow without a background in vision science. Some phenomena contain strong flicker, which is marked with a flicker alert. The site also includes a History/News section for returning visitors and links to background literature.
Key features
- 156 optical illusions and visual phenomena, each with an explanation
- Interactive experiments for exploring illusions directly in the browser
- Sections grouped by topic, such as motion and time and luminance and contrast
- Flicker alert markers on phenomena that contain strong flicker
- Links to background literature on optical illusions and the programming of the demonstrations
- A German-language version of the site
Best for: People interested in how visual perception works who want to explore illusions interactively, with the most useful explanations going to readers who have some background in vision science.
Good for
- The site states that it is intentionally free of adverts.
- It emphasises interactive experiments alongside explanations.
- Explanations attempt to describe the underlying visual mechanisms where possible.
Watch out for
- Some phenomena contain strong flicker, so caution is advised for people sensitive to flicker.
- The author notes that some explanations may be too technical for non-specialists.
- For many illusions, some people with normal vision do not see the effect.
Michaelbach at a glance
- Website
- michaelbach.de/ot
- Category
- Lifestyle & Hobbies › Fun & Interesting Sites
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Michaelbach FAQ
Can the illusions show something about my personality?
No. The site states that there is no reliable scientific data linking the ability to see a given illusion to personality traits. The author notes that age can have some influence.
What should I do if I cannot see a particular illusion?
The site notes that for many illusions, a percentage of people with normal vision do not see them, mostly for reasons that are currently unknown. Not seeing an illusion is not a sign of a problem.
Are there warnings for illusions that may affect some viewers?
Yes. Some phenomena contain strong flicker, and these are marked with a Flicker alert.
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