CHILTERN SCULPTURE TRAIL - STEREOSCOPE VIDEO VIEWING HELP

Help on viewing stereoscopic 3D pictures & videos

This diagram shows the difference between looking at a 2D photograph and looking at a 3D stereoscopic picture

Left: Viewing a 2D picture. Right: How to view a 3D picture.

A technique called Parallel Stereoscopic Freeviewing is a way to see 3D 'stereo' images on a computer monitor. The aim is to overlay the left and right image by directing the eyes to look in parallel, with each eye looking at the picture in front of it. It's a little difficult at first because the eyes are pointing as if they are looking at an object in the far distance, but focused to see something only a few inches away. Try doing it with the two pictures below.

Use these two slightly different pictures to practice viewing 3D photographs or videos

Above: Experiment with these two pictures.

Below: The two pictures should form a third '3D' image between them.

The actual effect you should observe will look like this, with the 3D image central, between two 'flat' pictures

Things to try if it's proving difficult:
Sit two to three feet back from the monitor. Ensure your head is level and avoid any reflections on the screen. Try looking through the photographs until you see four images. Slowly move your head backward or forward to draw the two central photographs together until they fuse into a single, three dimensional picture. Relax for a moment while your brain gets used to what it's seeing before trying to focus on the image. It's a little like those Magic Eye® pictures which were popular in the early 90's, but with real photographs. Lastly, it can take some time to develop the ability to see the 3D picture, so keep practicing!

Click here to see a Stereoscope 3D video of 23 - Untitled (Chilterns) by Tom Woolford.

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