Anamorphosis, “an image that appears distorted unless it is viewed from a special angle or with a special instrument”, can be used to create an interesting and attractive timepiece. The distorted image of a clock face is printed on a disk the size of a watch. Halfway towards the center is a ring of the numbers 1-12, inverted.

The moving hour, minute and second hands look like fat-bottomed arrows of different lengths and widths and point inwards towards the numbers. Each hand’s base continues over the disk’s outer edge to the clockwork behind. In the middle of the disk is affixed a conical mirror, with half the disk's diameter.

Though the disk would display an enigmatic image, by viewing the mirror straight on, one sees in the reflection a correctly dimensioned clock face with numbers and slim, rotating hands.
-- FarmerJohn, Sep 11 2002

Conical mirror anamorphosis http://myweb.tiscal...phosis/stenope.html
an example image [FarmerJohn, Sep 11 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Polar to Rectangular CD-ROM Labelling http://www.halfbake...0CD-Rom_20Labelling
Rods_'s use for this technique. [waugsqueke, Sep 11 2002]

Dali, come in - your dinner is ready.
-- po, Sep 11 2002


I think this would be the only type of watch I'd ever wear.
-- kaz, Sep 11 2002


I've seen this technique used in 'secret' paintings. I like them. Therefore I like this.
-- Jinbish, Sep 11 2002


When i wake up & look at my watch, it is always at an awkward angle. So a watchface designed to be seen through one half closed eye at about 10 deg acute angle gets my croissant. (think I need a speaking one!)
-- pfperry, Sep 13 2002


Now that I have mind's eye strain, I finally get it. I think you might be even be able to make one in clock form with a conventional mechanism. Attach a transparent disk to the second hand portion of the mechanism. Many old clocks with synchron mechanisms used this "spinner" to create motion effects. By attaching a lightweight (mylar?) conical mirror to the face of the spinner and using some strange looking but conventionally manufactured hands, you could probably accomplish this with mostly off the shelf parts. The only thing I'm not sure about is how critical the distance from the base of the cone to the face of the clock is. In my proposal the base of the cone would likely be in the neighborhood of .25"+ from the clock face.
-- half, Sep 13 2002


I kind of thought Anamorphosis might be the process of turning in to a cartoon.

I was pondering an anamorphic rendering of one of those "Magic Eye" hidden 3-D things. Ow, my eyes hurt just thinking about it.
-- half, Sep 13 2002



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