I first got hooked on anamorphic illusions when I saw a tiny warped drawing sit up straight only when viewed from a particular angle. There’s something quietly magical about a flattened image that resolves into readable text or a face when you move to the right spot. In this piece I’ll walk you through making a postcard-sized anamorphic illusion that reads correctly from one angle — a playful, pocketable project you can finish in an afternoon with simple tools.

What is anamorphosis and why postcard-size?

Anamorphosis is a deliberate distortion of an image so it looks normal only from a specific vantage point. The technique has roots in Renaissance art and street painting, but it’s also wonderfully suited to small-scale craft: a postcard-sized illusion fits into hands, slips into a wallet, and invites close inspection. It’s the kind of object that rewards curiosity — a tiny secret that only resolves when you tilt your head just so.

Materials and tools

Here’s what I usually gather for a postcard anamorph:

  • Postcard-sized card (approx. 100 x 150 mm) or heavyweight paper (250–300 gsm)
  • Tracing paper or baking paper
  • Pencil (HB & 2B), eraser, ruler
  • Black fineliner (0.3–0.8 mm) and/or ink pen
  • Watercolour/markers/coloured pencils for filling
  • Cutting mat and craft knife (optional: for trimming)
  • Masking tape or washi tape
  • Smartphone or small mirror to check the viewpoint

    • If you want to experiment, a small sheet of acrylic or plexiglass as a viewing plane is handy, but I usually just use my phone camera or a folded piece of card to mark the right angle.

    Material Why I use it Budget alternative
    300 gsm card Solid base for crisp lines and handling 200 gsm card or multiple layers of 160 gsm paper glued together
    Tracing paper Helps transfer and warp designs Baking paper or thin scrap tracing paper
    Fineliner pens Clean outlines and small details Pencil or gel pen

    Choosing a word or image

    I recommend starting with a short word (3–7 letters) or a simple icon. Words like "HI", "SMILE", or initials work beautifully. The key is to design forms that can stretch without losing recognizability. Avoid extremely ornate typography on your first try. Sans-serif letters are forgiving and translate clearly once distorted.

    Planning the viewpoint

    Decide where you want the postcard to be read from. For a postcard-sized piece, I often choose a viewing point about 30–50 cm away and slightly to one side. You can mark this with a small object on your desk. If you’re making a gift, think about how the recipient will hold it — in my experience, people tend to hold postcards at chest height and slightly angled toward themselves.

    Step-by-step process

    Here’s how I make an anamorph that reads correctly from one angle. I prefer to work directly on paper for speed, but you can do the same digitally if you like.

  • Mark your postcard edges and, on a scrap sheet, draw a horizontal base line that represents the postcard plane.
  • Decide on the viewpoint and draw a small dot that represents the viewer’s eye position. From that dot, lightly draw rays to the four corners of your postcard plane — these rays are your perspective lines.
  • On your tracing paper, sketch the word or small image exactly as you want it to appear to the viewer. Keep it centred and legible.
  • Place the tracing paper over the postcard plane and, working one letter or shape at a time, follow the perspective rays: draw lines from the viewer dot through key points of each letter to where they intersect the postcard plane. The intersections are your warped outlines. This is the geometric part — think of it as projecting the intended image backwards onto the flat surface.
  • When your pencil layout is complete, step to the viewpoint and check. You’ll see the word beginning to resolve. Tweak any lines that feel off.
  • Once satisfied, ink the distorted outlines with fineliner, then erase pencil marks when the ink is dry.
  • Colour or shade as you like. I often add a subtle background gradient to emphasise depth. Keep contrast high between letters and background so the word reads easily from the viewpoint.
  • Trim the edges if necessary and add a small mark on the back indicating the correct viewing angle (for example, a tiny arrow). This is handy for gifting: the recipient will know how to hold it to reveal the magic.

    • Tips for a cleaner result

  • Use light pencil marks at first. It’s easy to overcorrect with heavy graphite.
  • Test frequently from the intended viewpoint rather than guessing. Anamorphosis is all about alignment.
  • If a letter looks too thin after warping, thicken it slightly in the distorted drawing — the projection tends to thin strokes.
  • Use a ruler for perspective rays, but let organic line work in the final inking keep the piece charming.
  • Don’t be afraid of imperfect edges: a little wobble makes it feel hand-made and playful.

    • Troubleshooting common problems

    Problem: The word reads, but looks stretched or illegible.

  • Check that your viewer dot is in the right place. Small shifts make a big difference. Move your viewpoint further away to reduce extreme stretching.

    • Problem: Letters appear too thin or disappear.

  • Widen strokes in the distorted drawing before inking. Add a drop shadow or outline to increase legibility.

    • Problem: Colours muddy when viewed from the angle.

  • Increase contrast and simplify palettes. Flat, saturated colours tend to read better than subtle tints at small scale.

    • Variations and playful experiments

    Once you’ve mastered a single-angle postcard, try these variations:

  • Mirror-reading anamorphosis: design so the word reads correctly only in a small mirror placed at the viewpoint.
  • Double anamorph: two different words that resolve from two distinct angles (trickier, but delightful).
  • Mixed media: add a small fold-out strip that extends the plane physically, or attach a tiny stand so your postcard sits at the perfect tilt.

    • Sharing and gifting

    My favourite thing about these postcards is giving them away. I often slide one into a letter or leave it on a friend’s desk with a note. If you post photos, show both the flat view and the viewing-angle shot — the before-and-after is what makes people stop scrolling. If you want to include a little how-to for the recipient, write a tiny arrow and the distance (e.g., “view from 40 cm to the right”) on the back.

    If you’d like more step-by-step photos, templates, or a printable grid to help you get started, visit the project page on Max the Magician where I’ll add downloadable resources and a short video demo. I love seeing your versions, so tag me or send a photo — I’m always curious to see what others invent with this classic optical trick.