Discover a new dimension of vision
Get the SPECTAREA app on your iPhone or iPad and dive into the adventure.
SPECTAREA App
Download the free version of SPECTAREA from the App Store on your device and just try out if you can succeed the magical journey into the third dimension.
SPECTAREA-Pro App
Discover the entire three-dimensional world of SPECTAREA with many more magical images and animations
Into the third dimension even without special glasses. How can this work?
To fully appreciate these magical SPECTAREA images, you’ll need to look at them by using a special technique called parallel view. This means relaxing your vision and gazing softly to make the magic come alive.
Even when we look at our entire surroundings, we always fixate on only one point in each moment.
With the SPECTAREA images, this first glance shows us a two-dimensional image with seemingly patterned repetitions of identical image elements. However, upon closer inspection, these images are not exactly the same. They are subtly different.
The images are designed so that adjacent pairs of images are meant to be seen by the left and right eyes respectively. This pattern continues throughout the image.
If you achieve the parallel view your left eye sees one image element while your right eye sees the next. As you move your eyes, you’ll see the next pairs of images, like two and three, or maybe directly five and six.
In that way the distance between one image element and the next must always be smaller than your eye distance. Therefore, please scale the image size on larger screens accordingly.
It is inherent in the nature of the thing that the 3D impressions appear more spectacularly on a larger screen. An ideal screen size for this is an iPad. But even with the zoom function of an iPhone, the 3D impression can be experienced even more intensely (Settings > Accessibility > Zoom).
If you want to know more about the secrets of three-dimensional vision, take a look here
This is how it works.
The following instructions will show you how to achieve the parallel view most easily.
Eine kurze Anleitung
Instructions for your first time:
1. Keep your screen horizontal and avoid disruptive reflections.
2. Now bring the screen very close to the tip of your nose.
3. Move the screen extremely slowly away from your face now.
The initially blurred image becomes sharp and appears three-dimensional at the correct distance.
If it doesn’t work out right away, there are a lot of additional tips here.
Tipps zum Parallelblick
If the three-dimensional impression doesn‘t appear immediately, please do not lose patience. With a little practice and the following tips, almost anyone can experience the Eureka moment of three-dimensional space.
It is important that the screen is held straight and in a horizontal line with your eyes.
Of course, very close to your eyes, the image initially appears blurry. You should try to look into the distance “through the screen”.
You certainly know the moments when you completely switch off for a short break, let your thoughts run wild or do not think about anything at all. You simply look into the distance without actually observing anything. It is precisely with this view that you can easily immerse yourself in the SPECTAREA images.
When you slowly move away from your face, your eyes instinctively try to focus on the image as early as possible so that you can quickly identify the subject. In contrast, when you move away, you should consciously maintain the blur for as long as possible. When the three-dimensional impression appears for the first time, it is better to take a short break until the impression has strengthened. Only then carefully pull the image further away. The sharpness will then adjust itself.
Looking into three-dimensional space is actually a very relaxed look straight ahead, without fixating anything exactly.
Immersing yourself in the third dimension works particularly well in a casual environment and in a relaxed atmosphere and if you take some time. This is particularly easy in a slightly darkened environment when nothing can be reflected on the screen surface.
Caution Adventure!
But we also need to be careful in this adventure: If we don‘t approach the matter in a completely relaxed manner, we may feel unwell.
Then please put SPECTAREA aside immediately and try exploring the third dimension again at a later time.
History – the SPECTAREA project
SPECTAREA has a long history of development. The novel three-dimensional image designs are the result of countless optical experiments with various graphics programs. In this way the images became increasingly complex and sophisticated. As a result, many more aspects of spatial vision had to betaken into account:
The key to the third dimension
The three-dimensional picture that we perceive of our world is something we take for granted. But in our brain, a huge number of diverse sensory impressions mysteriously merge every second:
1. Two-eyed vision:
The retina of an eye can only produce a two-dimensional image of the environment. However, due to their different positions, our eyes actually see two unequal images. The objects we see are always perceived from two different perspectives. This is even more true the closer they are. Our brain then creates a three-dimensional world from the two two-dimensional images.
2. Unequal sizes:
The differences in size of objects give the brain information about their spatial distance. The smaller an object appears, the further away it is.
3. Hidden Objects:
Another source for spatial perception is our experience. When one object partially obscures another, we know that the one behind it is at a greater distance.
4. Transformed Colors:
The colors we perceive also give our brain information about spatial distance. Because of the larger air space, distant mountain ranges appear much bluer and paler than the closer landscape.
5. Intuitive Sharpness:
Our eyes automatically focus on the object we are observing. To do this, the lenses of the eye are deformed by a muscle so that the image hits the retina precisely. These changes in the lenses of the eyes give the brain further information about the distances of the objects being viewed
6. Moving perspective:
The two lines of sight of the eyes are intuitively directed to the point that has just been fixed. The closer it is, the larger the angle between the lines of sight becomes: if we look at something directly in front of the tip of our nose, the angle becomes so large that we squint. When looking at the horizon the angle is extremely small. The two lines of sight are then almost parallel. The position of the eyes relative to each other also gives the brain a further impression of distance.
From this large amount of individual information, our brain creates a three-dimensional image of the world around us in a fraction of a second.
A high-resolution screen of a tablet or smartphone is the ideal medium for the SPECTAREA motifs.
The outstanding brilliance of the colors and the strong contrasts are completely preserved in the SPECTAREA motifs.
Unlike other 3D techniques, they are not clouded by polarization filters, shutter effects or red-green filters.
The self-illuminating image almost looks like a real view of the world. When three-dimensional space or even a moving scene is added to the SPECTAREA motifs, a truly magical spectacle is created.
Over the years, not only new, unusual visual worlds were created, but also the elements of the magical stage and the numerous soundtracks.
The SPECTAREA project also includes further development for various print media, including a photo book and poster ideas.
Legal notice
Jo Hartwig Grafik Design · Jo Hartwig
Elsterbuscher Weg 5, 42657 Solingen, Germany
VAT identification number: DE11429751
Owner: Jo Hartwig
Phone: +49 212 13987 404
Mail: support@spectarea.com
Internet: spectearea.com
The SPECTAREA app and the SPECTEARA Pro app were developed by Jo Hartwig. The SPECTAREA app and the SPECTEARA Pro app are available exclusively through the Apple App Store. Liability claims against the developer relating to material or immaterial damage caused by the use of the PECTAREA app and the SPECTEARA Pro app are excluded, unless there is evidence of wilful intent or gross negligence on the part of the developer.
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data protection officer:
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data-protection@spectarea.com
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Source references for image and sound elements
Individual elements from the following image databases were used in the image motifs: Panthermedia, Fotolia, iStock, 123rf, Sketchup Warehouse / 3D Warehouse.
The music tracks were refined using GarageBand Loops, among other tools.
SPECTAREA App, SPECTAREA Pro App and this website
Provider and author: Jo Hartwig
Languages: German and English
Graphics and text: Jo Hartwig
Programming: xpunkt
Soundtracks (Apps): Jo Hartwig
Compatibility (Apps): iPadOS and iOS
Age (Apps): 4+
Copyright: © 2026 Jo Hartwig
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Jo Hartwig Grafik Design · Jo Hartwig
Elsterbuscher Weg 5, 42657 Solingen, Germany
Phone: +49 212 13987 404
Data protection officer:
Jo Hartwig
Mail: data-protection@spectarea.com
Competent data protection authority:
State Data Protection Commissioner of North Rhine-Westphalia
P.O. Box 20 04 44, 40102 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 384240
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