IN 1991, engineer Tom Baccei and 3D artist Cheri Smith collaborated to improve on the research of Dr. Bela Julesz, who had created the world’s first black and white random dot stereogram pair. Later, Christopher Tyler and programmer Maureen Clarke devised a method to encode information inside a single image, or autostereogram.

Baccei and Smith at Magic Eye took the evolution one step further. With the assistance of programmer Bob Salitsky, the group developed the first sophisticated, full-color autostereogram program. No more black & white dots! Using this new program in combination with state of the art 3D modeling software and colorful art techniques, a totally new patented art form was developed… Magic Eye®.

Magic Eye® 3D Illusions were first released by N.E. Thing Enterprises, which reorganized in 1996 as Magic Eye Inc when Tom left the company. Cheri Smith is the owner of Magic Eye Inc.