Shady Ovals Optical Illusion

Step 2 Creating the Background

A proper background is a catalyst in this illusion.  It will "set off the illusion " and help to put the ovals in motion (or so it will appear).  Without this pattern, there would be no illusion.  

Open up a new "U.S. Paper"-sized project in Photoshop.  Make sure that it is set up in landscape orientation.  This can be done by clicking "Image", hovering your mouse pointer over "Rotate Canvas" in the dropdown menu, and then clicking "90º CW".

Fill the whole project with black paint.  This can be done by using the "Paint Bucket Tool".  Now you will be able to create gradients on your project.

Select the "Rectangular Marquee Tool" and make a tall, thin rectangle as shown in the second photo below.

Then select the "Gradient Tool" and set it up for "Simple" gradients.  Select the blue option.  Create a gradient on the rectangle that was just made.  It should look like the gradient in the third photo below.  This is the beginning of a pattern of gradients that you will make to complete the background. 

Now make another tall, thin rectangle to the right of the first rectangle.  Try to make it the same size as the first one in width, but "eyeing it up" should be sufficient.  It doesn't have to be precisely the same size. 

As with the first rectangle, select the "Gradient Tool" and  fill the second rectangle with a simple blue gradient.  Make this gradient a mirror image of the first gradient.  This will establish the pattern that you want for the remainder of the background (see the fifth photo below).

Repeat this pattern of mirrored gradients the whole way across the project.  Make the whole project black and white by simply clicking "Image", hovering over the "Adjustments" option in the resulting dropdown menu, and then clicking "Black and White".  There is no "Simple" black gradient option, so this is a way to make your pattern in black and white. 

The finished background should look roughly like the one in the main photo below.  Print two sheets of this.