The amazing Vanishing Puzzle!

Recently I did a job that just possibly might be the hardest illustration I've ever done – at least regarding the amount of research and try-and-fail sketches needed in order to complete it. The client was looking for a custom so called "vanishing puzzle" – a mechanical optical illusion – as one of several items to be featured in a science calendar for kids.

The mechanics in a vanishing puzzle is comprising multiple pieces which can be rearranged to show different numbers of objects, depending on the arrangement of the pieces. Cutting and rearranging the parts of the image will produce the illusion that a part of it magically appeared or disappeared.

For an illustrator eager to get assignments this sounds like a piece of Key Lime Pie. But I can assure you I had at least a couple sleepless nights before anything remotely resembling a solution came creeping.

So, this is the final illustration (without cutting lines). It contains six Christmas balls and four candles. You'll find a printable version with cutting lines here.

Now how does this work? Well – first you need to print the illustration, and maybe even stick it on some cardboard or thick paper so as to make a bit sturdier. Then cut along the lines to get three parts.

Then rearrange the two top parts.

All done? Now let's do a quick recount of objects (candles and Christmas balls). Whuuuut, you say? Yep – now we have five of each. And a "GOD JUL" as well ;)

Read more about vanishing puzzles and its history over at Wikipedia :)

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