Why three or more images for a lenticular?

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 15:09:01 -0800
>From: P3D Gregory J. Wageman  writes:
>
>To those of you who are lenticularly knowlegable, perhaps you could answer
>a question.
>
>As we all know, stereopsis is quite effective with only two images when
>taken with an appropriate stereo base.
>
>Why, then, do lenticular cameras like the Nimslo, Nishika, Image Tech,
>etc. have three, four, or even more lenses?
>
>Is the very close spacing a compromise to keep these cameras relatively
>compact and sparing of film, and is this compromise perhaps responsible
>for the apparent lack of depth in consumer lenticular prints?
>
>I know from experiments with my Nishika that the inner pair show almost
>no depth, and even the outter pair are somewhat hypostereo when viewed
>in a stereo viewer.  How can they possibly contribute any depth when
>processed into a lenticular print?
>
>       -Greg W.

Lenticulars provide a finite number of  effective viewing angles. These
angles would be empty without the proper image content. Ultimately we see
with two eyes, so a lenticular provides a range of pairs to view. Different
lenticular lenses will provide different arrangements and viewing angles.
High quality lenticulars require far more than 3 or 4 lenses. They are
composed of tiny samples of many viewpoints so that in the finished image
you have appropriate pairs to see as your eyes move about in relation to the
image and it's lenticular surface.

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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