Spot the difference
Encyclopedia
Spot the difference is a name given to a puzzle
where two versions of an image
are shown side by side, and the player has to find differences between them. Usually, the image on the left is the original, and the image on the right has the alternates. Spot the difference games are also known as photo hunt games.
When a difference is found, the player usually draws a ring around the area in the second image. There is usually a notice above the puzzle stating how many differences there are to find. The solution is often given on either an answer page (puzzle book) or written upside-down beneath the puzzle (newspaper).
. Stereopsis
, such as crossing ones eyes, will reveal differences as floating images.
s, and in newspaper
s. Recently, Spot the different features in computer, online
and mobile
games.
technique with computers makes alternation in photos much easier, especially with software like Photoshop. The photo version of Spot the difference has become more common. A copy of the original photo is altered by simply addition or subtraction of elements in the photo. The original and altered version are put side by side to create the final image.
Puzzle
A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution...
where two versions of an image
Image
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
are shown side by side, and the player has to find differences between them. Usually, the image on the left is the original, and the image on the right has the alternates. Spot the difference games are also known as photo hunt games.
When a difference is found, the player usually draws a ring around the area in the second image. There is usually a notice above the puzzle stating how many differences there are to find. The solution is often given on either an answer page (puzzle book) or written upside-down beneath the puzzle (newspaper).
Techniques
One method to these puzzles is to treat the images as an autostereogramAutostereogram
An autostereogram is a single-image stereogram , designed to create the visual illusion of a three-dimensional scene from a two-dimensional image in the human brain...
. Stereopsis
Stereopsis
Stereopsis refers to impression of depth that is perceived when a scene is viewed with both eyes by someone with normal binocular vision. Binocular viewing of a scene creates two slightly different images of the scene in the two eyes due the the eyes' different positions on the head...
, such as crossing ones eyes, will reveal differences as floating images.
Where to be found
Spot the difference puzzles are often found in children's puzzle bookPuzzle book
A puzzle book is a book of puzzles for the reader to complete. A puzzle book may contain puzzles all of one type or a mixture of different puzzle types. Puzzle books may be aimed at adults or children....
s, and in newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s. Recently, Spot the different features in computer, online
Online game
An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...
and mobile
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
games.
Recent development
The advent of image editingImage editing
Image editing encompasses the processes of altering images, whether they be digital photographs, traditional analog photographs, or illustrations. Traditional analog image editing is known as photo retouching, using tools such as an airbrush to modify photographs, or editing illustrations with any...
technique with computers makes alternation in photos much easier, especially with software like Photoshop. The photo version of Spot the difference has become more common. A copy of the original photo is altered by simply addition or subtraction of elements in the photo. The original and altered version are put side by side to create the final image.