Moiré Pattern

optical illusion · math and art · waves · patterns

It's an optical illusion. Moiré patterns aren't really moving, but your eye and brain make them look like they're shimmering and waving. The pattern appears when two similar striped or dotted layers sit on top of each other.

All about the angle. The magic happens when the two patterns don't match up perfectly. If you tilt one pattern slightly or shift it sideways, the overlapping creates big wavy lines that weren't there before.

You see them everywhere. Check your TV, computer screen, or striped clothing photographed up close. You'll spot moiré patterns in textiles, on fabric with fine weaves, and even on printed materials where two dot patterns overlap.

It's wave science. Moiré is actually an example of interference, the same thing that happens when waves in water or sound waves overlap. When the patterns line up just right, they either strengthen or cancel each other out, creating the wavy bands.

Artists love it on purpose. Some artists and designers deliberately create moiré patterns because they're so visually striking and eye-catching. The effect shows how our brains interpret what we see.