Introduction: How to Make an Ames Room Optical Illusion Used in Lord of the Rings

This instructable shows you how to construct a miniature Ames Room from a layout using paper. An Ames room is a distorted room that gives the optical illusion of depth, distance and varying size. Setups like this were used in 'The Lord of the Rings' movies.

Play this video to see what the optical illusion looks like.

Step 1: Layout and Tools

Tools required: 1) Cutting blade 2) ruler 3) stiff paper or card 4) adhesive tape or gum 5) objects such as a key, pen, playing cards, toy figures.

The illusion is noticeable if the layout and prints are large, so print as big as possible.
Below is the layout for the Ames Room. In an image editor, the size of this image is 48 inches width x 54 inches height.

Step 2: Divide the Image Equally

This step assumes that you cannot print large. Therefore, the image must be divided equally for easy printing. There are 3 rows and 4 columns.
Each column is 12 inches wide. Each row is 18 inches high.

Step 3: Print the Sections

Ideally, you should print on a printer that's larger than your desktop printer.
Here the prints are 12 inches wide x 18 inches high.

Step 4: Lay Out the Sheets

Once the printing is done, lay out the sheets accordingly and cut away the outer white portions, leaving the tabs in place.

Step 5: Cut Out the Inner Parts

Once the outer portions are removed, stick the different sections with tape or gum. Then cut the inner parts marked with X i.e. the windows, ceiling and observation hole.

Step 6: Fold the Tabs and Walls

Next, fold all the tabs and edges of the walls.

Step 7: Fold the Entire Room

Finally, fold the entire room. This is the tricky part as each edge should meet the adjacent or opposite edge. Using tape or gum, stick the edges together.

Step 8: The Room Is Done

The finished room is trapezoidal in shape.

Step 9: Test the Illusion

The final step is to test the illusion using various objects such as pens, keys, playing cards or small toy figures. Place an object in one corner of the front wall and look through the observation hole to view the inside of the room. Move the object slowly to the other corner and notice its apparent change in size.

In the figure, you can see playing cards of the same size but which appear differently sized due to their apparent position in the room. As shown in the video in the intro, move the cards past each other and see one apparently grow as the other reduces in size.

Play this video to see what the optical illusion looks like.


The Ames room was invented by American ophthalmologist Adelbert Ames Jr in 1946.