In 1991, there was software for your Mac or PC to make your own 'Magic Eye' "3D autostereograms" images ...

In the early 1990s, Magic Eye images (or computer-generated autostereograms to give them their generic name) felt like the pinnacle of an exciting confluence of art and technology. They were everywhere: on posters, calendars, magazines, adverts, even on the walls of my high school design workshop.

But how were Magic Eye images made? I'm happy to discover that someone's done some digging to find, and even got hold of a copy of a long-lost program published by the Magic Eye company itself. And interestingly, this retro software seems to have the edge over more contemporary solutions (you might also want to see our pick of the best 3D modelling software).

Clint notes that the images in Magic Eye books were much more sophisticated than the software's output because they used ray-traced 3D imagery with gradients and shadows, not just the basic shapes available in Stare-EO Workshop, but we can assume this is something similar to how Magic Eye images were made in the early 1990s.

Other autostereogram software existed, including Lifestyle software's Stereograms! and I/O software's Stereolusions and the more recent SIRDS by Katsura. We've also seen an artist make a Magic Eye-style artwork in Blender. But Clint suggests that today's stereogram software is harder to get good results from because there are so many more adjustment options, and you'll usually need separate 3D software to create the underlying 3D images.

https://www.creativebloq.com/art/digital-art-software/long-lost-magic-eye-software-is-a-delightful-dose-of-90s-nostalgia

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvXY99HysrU

The Company is Still around! https://www.magiceye.com/