Perspective 2.0: two size changes with a banknote

A play banknote is genuinely torn, and its pieces appear to change size twice. Julio Montoro presents Perspective 2.0 and explains the paper preparation, orientation and sequence ending with one tiny piece and one very large piece. The lesson contains a presentation and a tutorial.

Required printed props and materials

You need banknotes printed with the specific Perspective 2.0 design. Ordinary Monopoly money has unsuitable proportions: Julio uses geometry comparable to a Bicycle playing card. That comparison concerns proportions, rather than requiring a deck for the effect. Look for the specific props at your usual magic shop.

You also need a camera and scissors, or a ruler and craft knife for trimming. The explanation starts with the printed designs and teaches their finishing and handling, rather than drawing the design from scratch. The paper is torn during the sequence.

Preparing the banknote

Julio explains printing on both sides and the purpose of the black margins when front and back do not align perfectly. He then shows the edges to trim and how to arrange the folds using the design itself as a reference. Creasing and preparing the section to be torn are covered.

Developing the two changes

The tutorial follows the tear, placement of the pieces, cover in front of the camera and changes of orientation between the two phases. Hand positioning makes the apparent transformation read as a play on perspective.

An alternative visual change using a shake is explained, together with the display of both sides permitted by the final arrangement, including the small piece's blank back. Rehearse the framing and check the image before adding the presentation.

Viewing conditions and adaptation

The main handling is designed for a camera's two-dimensional image. The same arrangement cannot simply be assumed to work unchanged for spectators using both eyes from different positions.

Julio discusses viewing with one eye closed and a live adaptation based on an idea by Dani DaOrtiz, using broad movements to cover the actions. He also suggests switching in another piece to hand out. These are separate possibilities discussed alongside the main camera handling.

Practice centers on the printed props, folds, orientation, cover and pacing. The explanation develops this banknote version with two changes; it is not a card-selection-and-control routine.