Afterimage

An afterimage is simply an image made by your eyes after staring at an object for a certain period of time. The brighter the object, the more powerful the afterimage will be.

Afterimage occurs when photochemical activity in the retina continues even when the eye is no longer experiencing the previous image. They occur a lot, sources include bright lights. They are not to be confused by Floater.

Afterimage Media

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  If a viewer stares at the white dot in the center of this image for 5–60 seconds and then looks at a plain white surface, a negative afterimage will appear, showing a person's face in a more natural color scheme. This can also be achieved by the viewer closing their eyes.

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  The U.S. flag inverted: if a viewer stares at the middle stripe for around 25 to 30 seconds, then looks at a wall and blink rapidly, this image will appear in color.

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  Square colored white, to show white box (resized) or hide a square area on white background.

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  The Italian flag inverted: if a viewer stares at the middle of the flag long enough and blinks at a wall rapidly afterwards, this flag will appear in color.

• Example video which produces a distorted illusion after one watches it and looks away. See motion aftereffect.