Two of the most basic illusion types are production and vanishing. The stereotypical rabbit from a hat is a form of the production illusion. The simple premise is that an object is produced from seemingly thin air and this can be almost anything. On the other end of the scale is vanishing, which is the complete opposite of production. An object is seemingly made to disappear into thin air. This can be anything from a penny to the Statue of Liberty, as David Copperfield famously once did.
Made famous by the legendary Harry Houdini, escape illusions are generally impressive to watch. They can be as simple as escaping a straightjacket or be made death-defying in nature. Escape artists will sometimes use a potentially lethal element in their escape illusion which adds urgency to the escape. This makes for exciting shows and potentially deadly outcomes. Every care is generally taken, however, to ensure the illusionist is in no danger from the stunt.
Another stereotyped illusion, sawing a lady in half, is an example of a penetration illusion. These illusions are generally perceived to be dangerous and may involve a seeming slicing in half, piercing with swords or being closed in a spiked box. The illusions are generally designed to be done in an enclosed box with just parts of the person inside visible. Sharp implements are then pushed into the box which never really get anywhere near the person inside.
Defying gravity is another way illusionists impress a crowd. To see someone apparently float in midair with no obvious evidence of support can appear mystical. Illusionists often illustrate extensively that nothing is holding the person afloat. This is often done by passing a large ring like a hula-hoop along the person's body.
Also common are the restoration illusions. These tricks seem to show the magician destroy an object and then, by magic, cause it to repair itself. A common example of this is the watch in the bag trick. The magician places the watch of an audience member into a cloth bag, seemingly smashes it in the bag, producing broken watch parts as proof and then returns it to being whole. This can also be done with newspaper, cut rope and other small, fragile objects.