Transposition is the exchange or relocation of two objects, people, or elements in a way that defies logical explanation. Transpositions encapsulate the illusion of impossible switching, where items trade places under the magician’s control, creating a profound sense of wonder. The transposition effect manipulates spatial perception, challenging the audience’s understanding of physical continuity and causality.

The execution of transposition spans close-up to grand stage illusions. In card magic, an example of a transposition effect is the three card monte where the audience is charged with keeping track of the red queen among the two black tens: the red queen is repeatedly swapped with one of the black tens in an impossible manner. Stage magicians swap two individuals between locked boxes, or swap a lady with a caged tiger, often employing smoke and mirrors and hidden compartments to achieve the deception.

Harry Houdini was famous not only for his escape acts, but for his quick Metamorphosis trick. In Metamorphosis, a lovely assistant is locked in a large box, and the performer stands on the box before tossing his cape up into the air, and before his cape touches the ground, the lady stands in his place.