Those Funny Stairs..

Lifetime · 11-12-2001, 08:41 AM

I've been wondering.. how does one construct those stairs that seem to go down but makes you end up where you started? Like those ones that go down and down and down when you realise that in going down you actually went back to where you went down..uh.. okay this is confusing.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Like those really strange stairs that seem to go down and yet go in a loop thus leading you nowhere but in circles?

Can someone explain those things to me? In English?

Lioness · 11-12-2001, 08:42 AM

Yo no se que tu hablas! Es muy complicado...

Lifetime · 11-12-2001, 10:22 AM

Lioness, thou art cruel!

Come on anyone wanna explain that whole up/down stairs thing? In PLAIN ENGLISH? [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Sir ReGiN · 11-12-2001, 11:18 AM

Ich verstanden nicht!

Sazerac · 11-12-2001, 11:30 AM

You're talking about Escher's work, right? The artist who constructed the infinite stairwells. He was an artist talented in spacial illusions and in "morphing"; that is, changing an artistic shape from one thing into another. I think "Ascending and Descending" is the work you're thinking of.

Check here for more information:

http://www.worldofescher.com/

Lifetime · 11-12-2001, 11:42 AM

Thanks Saz, but it doesnt help me understand how the effect is made.. can anyone understand it?

Talthyr Malkaviel · 11-12-2001, 12:23 PM

Well, if you mean one that just goes in a circle, just have three in a row going up slightly, then the last one goes down, joining on to the start of the first one.

Redblueflare · 11-12-2001, 12:23 PM

Think goodness someone explained it. Lol, I really thought you were talking about an escalator!

Lioness · 11-12-2001, 02:17 PM

heehee, yo soy muy loca, Lifetime! [img]smile.gif[/img] Pero, me mucha gusta Escher.

[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Lioness ]

Sazerac · 11-12-2001, 05:26 PM

As to how it's done: it's more of a matter of manipulating perspective than anything else.

Basically, the stairs can't ascend, but must look as if they are doing so. So you have to use a very low grade (about 5%) and angle the stairs downward, but barely perceptibly, to where it looks like one is leading up into another, but they loop back upon themselves.

Examine some of Escher's work closely and see. You'll see the illusion if you look hard enough.

Cheers,

11-12-2001, 08:41 AM	#1
Lifetime Red Dragon Join Date: March 3, 2001 Location: Scotch College, Melbourne Posts: 1,503	I've been wondering.. how does one construct those stairs that seem to go down but makes you end up where you started? Like those ones that go down and down and down when you realise that in going down you actually went back to where you went down..uh.. okay this is confusing. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Like those really strange stairs that seem to go down and yet go in a loop thus leading you nowhere but in circles? Can someone explain those things to me? In English? __________________ \'Cause its always raining in my head. Forget all the things I should have said..

11-12-2001, 08:42 AM	#2
Lioness Jack Burton Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: Among the Stars Age: 37 Posts: 5,837	Yo no se que tu hablas! Es muy complicado... __________________ [img]\"ubb/noncgi/smiles/lioness1.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /> <br /><br />Premier Waitress/Smacker of Cloudy\'s Cafe<br /><br />\"the only people for me are the mad ones...\"

11-12-2001, 10:22 AM	#3
Lifetime Red Dragon Join Date: March 3, 2001 Location: Scotch College, Melbourne Posts: 1,503	Lioness, thou art cruel! Come on anyone wanna explain that whole up/down stairs thing? In PLAIN ENGLISH? [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] __________________ \'Cause its always raining in my head. Forget all the things I should have said..

11-12-2001, 11:18 AM	#4
Sir ReGiN Gold Dragon Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: The land of blonde virgins Age: 43 Posts: 2,563	Ich verstanden nicht! __________________ Take a look at your Promised Land<br />Your deed is that gun in your hand

11-12-2001, 11:30 AM	#5
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 61 Posts: 7,387	You're talking about Escher's work, right? The artist who constructed the infinite stairwells. He was an artist talented in spacial illusions and in "morphing"; that is, changing an artistic shape from one thing into another. I think "Ascending and Descending" is the work you're thinking of. Check here for more information: http://www.worldofescher.com/ __________________ "And all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams, Are where thy grey eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams, In what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams..."

11-12-2001, 11:42 AM	#6
Lifetime Red Dragon Join Date: March 3, 2001 Location: Scotch College, Melbourne Posts: 1,503	Thanks Saz, but it doesnt help me understand how the effect is made.. can anyone understand it? __________________ \'Cause its always raining in my head. Forget all the things I should have said..

11-12-2001, 12:23 PM	#7
Talthyr Malkaviel Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: August 31, 2001 Location: Land of the Britons Age: 38 Posts: 3,224	Well, if you mean one that just goes in a circle, just have three in a row going up slightly, then the last one goes down, joining on to the start of the first one. __________________ Resident cantankerous sorcerer of the Clan HADB<br />and Sorcerous Nuttella salesman of the O.R.T<br /> <br /><br />Say NO to the Trouser Tyranny! Can I drill you about this?

11-12-2001, 12:23 PM	#8
Redblueflare Galvatron Join Date: May 9, 2001 Location: The backwoods in Georgia sigh Age: 41 Posts: 2,151	Think goodness someone explained it. Lol, I really thought you were talking about an escalator! __________________ <br /><br />\"If you ever need me just whistle, and i\'ll come running. I promise. <img border=\"0\" title=\"\" alt=\"[Smile]\" src=\"smile.gif\" /> <br />Kupo, Kupo! A man can\'t get a sword if he can\'t dance! <img border=\"0\" title=\"\" alt=\"[Big Grin]\" src=\"biggrin.gif\" />

11-12-2001, 02:17 PM	#9
Lioness Jack Burton Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: Among the Stars Age: 37 Posts: 5,837	heehee, yo soy muy loca, Lifetime! [img]smile.gif[/img] Pero, me mucha gusta Escher. [ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: Lioness ] __________________ [img]\"ubb/noncgi/smiles/lioness1.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /> <br /><br />Premier Waitress/Smacker of Cloudy\'s Cafe<br /><br />\"the only people for me are the mad ones...\"

11-12-2001, 05:26 PM	#10
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 61 Posts: 7,387	As to how it's done: it's more of a matter of manipulating perspective than anything else. Basically, the stairs can't ascend, but must look as if they are doing so. So you have to use a very low grade (about 5%) and angle the stairs downward, but barely perceptibly, to where it looks like one is leading up into another, but they loop back upon themselves. Examine some of Escher's work closely and see. You'll see the illusion if you look hard enough. Cheers, __________________ "And all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams, Are where thy grey eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams, In what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams..."

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