- News
- Compilations
- Fonts
- Tech
- UX
- Design
- Development
- AI
Compilations
By WDD Staff
September 29, 2009
The Droste effect is a Dutch term for a specific type of recursive picture.
An image exhibiting the Droste effect depicts a smaller version of the image within itself in a recursive manner.
In theory, the picture in picture effect continues deeper into the picture ad infinitum, but it really only goes as far as the image resolution will allow while still being visible, but it still has the feeling of being never ending.
The advent of the digital age has taken the old Droste effect to a whole new level.
In this compilation, you'll find over 50 stunning examples of the Droste effect.
The effect is named after a particular image that appeared in various forms on the tins and boxes of Droste cocoa powder, one of the main Dutch brands.
It displays a nurse carrying a serving tray with a cup of hot chocolate and a box of Droste cocoa depicting the same image (shown on the right).
The brand's effect, maintained for decades, became a household notion. Reportedly, poet and columnist Nico Scheepmaker introduced wider usage of the term in the late 1970's
In the 1950’s, one of the famous graphic artisits Maurits Cornelis Escher.C. Escher took the Droste effect to another level with his incredible drawings, and mapped images to a spiral.
In the series of images below you can see how Escher starts the image with a man looking at a photo and as you look further, this image will take you deeper into a never ending loop of the same image.
Another Classic on Droste effect was the CD cover for the Pink Floyd album “Ummaguna” released in 1969.
Today the creations of the Droste effect are mostly done using digital images and there are some helpful solutions to make it easy to create your own piece. Are are some amazging examples and videos:
Further Resources and Tutorials:
- How to create the Droste Effect with Adobe After Effects
- Wolfram Blog: Droste Effect with Mathematica
- Escher's Droste Effect - Subblue
- Josh Sommer's tutorial
- Flickr Droste Effect
Compiled exclusively for WDD by Paulo Canabarro.
Which ones are your favorite examples? Please share others that we may have missed in the comments area.
WDD Staff
WDD staff are proud to be able to bring you this daily blog about web design and development. If there's something you think we should be talking about let us know @DesignerDepot.
Popular Posts
- 1 15 Best New Fonts, July 2024
- 2 3 Essential Design Trends, August 2024
- 3 How to Start a Creative Venture With No Money
Read Next
3 Essential Design Trends, August 2024
As all the youngsters prepare to go back to school, you can tackle some learning too with these website design trends.…
By Carrie Cousins
How to Start a Creative Venture With No Money
Starting a creative venture with no money can be challenging, but it's definitely possible with the right approach and…
By Louise North
15 Best New Fonts, July 2024
Welcome to our monthly roundup of the best fonts we’ve found online in the last four weeks. This month, there are fewer…
By Ben Moss
The Power of the Human Face in Web Design
First impressions online are made in just a few seconds, so nailing your web design is crucial. Among the many elements…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, July 2024
Welcome to July’s round up of websites to inspire you. This month’s collection ranges from the most stripped-back…
By Paddi MacDonnell
Top 7 WordPress Plugins for 2024: Enhance Your Site's Performance
WordPress is a hands-down favorite of website designers and developers. Renowned for its flexibility and ease of use,…
By WDD Staff
Exciting New Tools for Designers, July 2024
Welcome to this July’s collection of tools, gathered from around the web over the past month. We hope you’ll find…
By Paddi MacDonnell
Meaningful Ways to Measure Website Success
Your website is often the first thing people see, where they go to learn more about you, get information, or even make…
By Louise North
3 Essential Design Trends, July 2024
Add some summer sizzle to your design projects with trendy website elements. Learn what's trending and how to use these…
By Carrie Cousins
15 Best New Fonts, June 2024
Welcome to our roundup of the best new fonts we’ve found online in the last month. This month, there are notably fewer…
By Ben Moss
How to Detect AI Writing
AI has really shaken up how we create and read content. With their intelligent algorithms and machine learning, AI…
By Simon Sterne
20 Best New Websites, June 2024
Arranging content in an easily accessible way is the backbone of any user-friendly website. A good website will present…
By Paddi MacDonnell
