Just found an interesting set of illusions linked from BoingBoing.net, painted in rooms so that from a certain point, you see... well, just look for yourself. (I did a cursory search, and I don't *think* these have been posted before.)

http://www.2loop.com/3drooms.html

-- Jake

That is pretty much awsome.

Thanks for sharing that finding Jake. Impressive!

Very impressive, thanks Jake.
But I think I'm gonna faint when sitting in a room like this.

When I lived in Germany, I visited the "Neue Residenz" in Bamberg. It had a one-story high ballroom, but the walls and ceiling were painted with columns, historical figures, and architectural details so that, when one stood in the exact center of the room, it appeared as if the room were three stories high and open to the sky. It was very impressive.

Ah, here's a picture! It's not taken from the "sweet spot," so you can see the difference between the obvious curve of the ceiling on the right, and the much less obvious curve behind the chandelier. I love this stuff.

http://tinyurl.com/g83w5

-- Jake

The BoingBoing pictures are terrific! I have a basic grasp of perspective drawing, but I don't think I could lay out lines with that level of precision. Anyone know of books, websites, etc. that discuss the drafting and mechanics of such illusions? None of the trompe l'oeil books I have seen have dealt with the specifics of this sort of perspective planning.
Bruce

I don't know of any books that explain this, but if I were going to make an uneducated stab at it, I'd probably do something like this:

1) Make design on PowerPoint slide or similar
2) Set up projector at point where you want illusion to look "right."
3) Open the slide, leave projector on, and trace design on walls, ceiling, floor.
4) Paint room.

I imagine this would work, but it may not; I've never tried it.

-- Jake

I think Jake has a good idea for starting, however you would have to take into account the changes in lighting, necessitating color shifts in what you paint so that the overall look worked correctly when you were done.

Jerry