Folded aperture: a hypnotic square tunnel in cream and orange
Folded aperture uses the Tunnel geometry, nesting squares that alternate between solid color and the near-black Background as they shrink toward a pinpoint. The outer bands are cream and warm into orange as they fall inward, so the center seems to glow from deep inside the frame. A Wave distortion of 48 turns each square by a slightly different angle, which gives the tunnel its folded, slightly off-true look.
Make it yours
Add or remove bands
Pattern density sets how many squares nest inside each other, and 36 gives about a dozen colored bands. Raise it past 60 for a fine, dizzying tunnel, or drop it to 20 for a few bold frames that can hold a logo in the middle.
Straighten or twist the frames
Wave distortion at 48 tilts the squares against one another. Set it to 0 for perfectly aligned, concentric frames in the spirit of classic op art prints, or raise it toward 85 for a stronger twist.
FAQ
What is a tunnel illusion in op art?
It is a set of nested shapes shrinking toward one point, so a flat surface seems to open into depth. Alternating light and dark bands strengthen the effect, and Spatial depth controls how sharply the squares crowd together near the center.
How it works
Choose a visual system
Start from one of 16 looks such as Signal field, Interference study or Electric passage, or pick one of 8 pattern geometries.
Tune the illusion
Adjust pattern density, mark weight, spatial depth, wave distortion, pattern phase and color separation, then drag the artwork to position it.
Set it in motion
Press Play to move the marks as a flow, a breath or a counterflow, set the colors, then sign in with a free UX Pilot account to use it on the canvas or export it.