Re:THE FREEVIEWER'S ASSISTANT - Part III

[P3D Gabriel Jacob <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Below I would like to combine and reply to two posts that had some
similiar items.

Larry writes in his post about: Re: Opinions....

>*********  So did I for quite a long time. When I first joined this group I
>wrote such an opinion to P3D. I have changed my tune. My early experiences
>with crossed viewing were mildly uncomfortable and definitely unfamiliar. I
>finally got frustrated enough with the small size of parallel viewed images
>and was motivated to teach myself crossed viewing. With practice it became
>very familiar and easy.

That's interesting because at first I found cross-viewing to be much
easier to do than parallel viewing and only learned parallel-viewing
after having to use it for random stereograms. Incidently I had
stumbled over cross-eyed viewing years back when I was trying to fuse
3D images on the monitor using lenses,prisms and mirrors. I thought
I had discovered a new way of viewing and wondered if any one else
knew of this technique. I got proficient initially with cross-eyed
viewing since the images I was experimenting with were large and
parallel-viewing would have been very hard to stumble on with large
images. 

>The resulting freedom for viewing stereo images of any size, and the
>reduced stress on my eyes from many hours of freeviewing, has convinced
>me that it is a very important and relatively easy technique. One can
>spend a great deal more time free-viewing stereo if both viewing methods
>are used interchangeably. I would have been equally able to learn the
>technique a long time ago, but didn't go beyond casual experimentation.
>I recommend anyone who likes stereo images should learn both kinds of
>freeviewing. It's valuable and lots of fun to wear one's viewer in
>one's head at all times!  ;-)

Yes both techniques are very usefull as Larry mentions. In my case
after learning parallel-viewing it still took a long while before
I got comfortable with parallel-viewing even small 3D prints other
than random stereograms. But now I find myself equaly able to view
both modes of free-viewing.

Dr.T writes in another post about Alan's Freeviewer's Assistant

>But there are situations where freeview leaves you helpless.  These 
>are the cases where images are placed for parallel viewing but are 
>separated by 4" or more.  Alan has a nice one in his site (for 
>practice) but I have encounter this situation in at least one 
>stereoscopic web site.

That's what happens from too much slide viewing and not enough
computer viewing. Your eyes get lazy. ;;;-)
Actually I found it kinda strange because I can parallel-view
the image that you mention on my screen no problem. On my monitor
the images are separated by more than 4 inches (actually 5 inches)
and I can parallel view this at a normal viewing distance from the
monitor of 25 inches. Of course the farther back one goes the
easier it is to do. But 25 inches is pretty close. I guess I must
have reached the diverging stage? Anyone wanna do the trig. ;-)

On a more serious note, with all this talk about freeviewing and
all. I was thinking for quite awhile and discussed this briefly
with Ron Labbe about what are most individuals more comforable
with. Of course it is well known (as fact but might not be) that
one can view much larger pictures cross-eyed than parallel-eyed
since the eyes can only view up to parallel, which is dictated by
the eyes interocular distance(?). After that one can view
wide-eyed and diverge the eyes but this is even harder to do and
only at very small angles. Cross-eyed is also more tiring on the
eyes since the eyes have to converge inward.

But still, what is the general preference if the images are say of
2 1/2 inches (~65mm). I have heard that most people find parallel
viewing much easier and cross-eyed very hard. But on the same token
I have heard an EQUAL amount of people state otherwise. So here is
something that I think we have alot of opinions about but no hard
facts that I know of. Does anybody know of any study confirming 
what is easier. Anyone for a poll on this? 

Regarding Dr.T's review about the Freeviewer's Assistant found it
very informative and entertaining. Glad to see it making you enjoy
computer 3D images. I hope you weren't trying to view computer 3D
images with Alan's other fine 3D product, the Achromatic Lorgnette.

Gabriel getting both versions of Freeviewer's Assistant in a few days.
(wooden completed version and cardboard kit version.)


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