Ames-room illusion box — 3D-printable model preview
AR view

Ames-room illusion box

Make two identical toys look like a giant and a dwarf through a peephole

Look through the peephole and the room looks like an ordinary box, but it is not: the back wall runs at a slant, so the left corner is twice as far away as the right. Put two identical figures in the back corners and one looks like a giant and the other like a dwarf. Move a figure along the back wall and it grows or shrinks before your eyes. It is the Ames room, invented in 1946 and used in films to make actors look tiny next to wizards.

Size
200 × 200 × 110 mm
Shape
Custom outline
Walls
2.4 mm
Volume
251 cm³
Est. weight (PLA)
312 g
Parts to print
1
Made by
Krypto
Built in
13 steps

What’s in it

  • Custom outline, 200 × 200 × 110 mm, with 2.4 mm walls
  • Custom outline traced from a shape
  • 1 hole in the walls
  • Raised text: “LOOK HERE”

How to print it

Print in white. Lay a sheet of tracing paper over the top as a ceiling to let light in.

Prints as shown on its outline, no supports.

Filament: at most about 312 g of PLA printed solid (roughly $6.23 at $20 per kg); normal infill uses less.

To get the files, open it in the generator and choose File › Download STL (one file per part) or Download 3MF (every part on one plate).

Questions

What size is the ames-room illusion box model?

The ames-room illusion box model measures 200 × 200 × 110 mm (width × depth × height). You can change every size in the free SO3D.xyz generator before you download it.

Does it need supports?

No. Print in white. Lay a sheet of tracing paper over the top as a ceiling to let light in. Prints as shown on its outline, no supports.

How much filament does it use?

At most about 312 g of PLA (251 cm³ printed solid), roughly $6.23 of filament at $20 per kg. Normal infill uses less.

Can I change it?

Yes. Open it in the SO3D.xyz generator (free, in your browser), change the size, walls, dividers, holes, text or anything else, then download it as STL or 3MF for your slicer.

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Make it fit your space

Change the size, walls, dividers, holes and labels of the ames-room illusion box model in your browser, then download it for your printer. Free, no CAD needed.

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