Wood carvers masterfully transform flat wooden panels into dynamic, lifelike scenes by employing techniques that trick the eye into perceiving depth. The secret lies in relief carving, where artists carefully sculpt layers at varying heights—foreground elements protrude more while background details recede. Strategic shading enhances the effect; deeper cuts create shadows that mimic natural light and shadow play. Texturing tools add realism, with finer grooves suggesting distant textures and bolder strokes emphasizing closer elements. Perspective principles guide the composition, ensuring proportional scaling that aligns with human visual perception. Some carvers even incorporate optical illusions like forced perspective or anamorphosis, where the artwork reveals its full dimensionality only from specific angles. By combining these methods, a simple plank becomes a window into a three-dimensional world, showcasing the carver's ability to manipulate both material and perception.