Re: 2-1/4 x 3-1/4

[Stephen Puckett <spuckett@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joel wrote:

>...but the 6x9 format would require a different viewing 
>scheme, either the over-under like the View Magic, or
>Wheatstone viewer style. Thoughts?

I started in MF stereo by taking 6x9 transparencies using old 
folders and then putting them in black Q-Vue stereocard mounts 
using 2 'fronts' (the half with the apertures).  I used a piece of 
heavy black paper in the top of the aperture to mask it down to 2 
inches in height.  I was freeviewing these then, to accommodate my 
non-freeviewing wife and friends, I built a viewing attachment for 
my Holmes-type stereoscope.  I had some translucent plexiglass cut 
to the size of a stereocard and then glued a plexiglass grooved bar 
along the bottom on which to rest the tranny-stereocard.  Total 
cost was less than $10 for plexiglass, custom cutting, and glue.  
I put the plexiglass sheet in the back of the stereoscope, rest 
the tranny-stereocard on the 'shelf', and hold it somewhat 
downward toward a light source.

Improvements I've contemplated:
1. I bought a box of lantern glass to put protective glass on 
   each side...some day  ;-)
2. Using lighter plexiglass or better light source.  The glass I
   got was rather dark but does not have noticeable (to me)
   'mottling' which can spoil the stereo image.  I have a small
   Ott-Lite at my desk at work that provides bright, flickerless,
   natural color...but I have to get around to bringing it
   home  :-(
3. Using a VM side-by-side viewer to look at these.  I have an
   over-under and enjoy it but have not tried a side-by-side to
   view the stereocard format.  I assume it would work for this
   and give an image superior to that of the prisms in my
   stereoscope.

Quite frankly, I'm not likely to try any of these in the near 
future.  I discovered the MF3D maillist, homemade viewers, 
Joel's mounts, etc., and so I'm off on a new tangent...