P3D Re: Shutter glasses stereo on websites

[Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 
>From: MarkKernes <MarkKernes@xxxxxxx>
>.......................
>Help! I know nothing about creating, for a website, stereo images which can be
>viewed with LC shutter glasses - I just know it can be done. Can anyone
>recommend a good computer program which will allow me to create shutter glass
>stereo from Realist stereo pairs, which can be viewed with, say VREX glasses,
>or even the wired kind? The system must work on IBM-based computers, but
>hopefully on Macintoshes too.
>
>Mark Kernes <markkernes@xxxxxxx>
>

****  It's really quite simple and can be done with any reasonably good
graphics program. There are details that make it easier to use a program
that is designed to help the stereo enthusiast. The very best program for
that purpose is 3D Stereo Image Factory(tm) from SOFTreat. It allows you to
very easily adjust any sort of alignment problems, then save as JPS stereo
pairs or a host of other types. It supports the major LCS systems within the
program so you can edit your stereo image alignment while viewing it.

http://members.aol.com/threedr

The JPS stereo pair images are nothing more than a cross-viewable (reading
from left to right the Right eye image is first) stereo pair image saved as
a JPG type image. Then the extension is changed to JPS. Since any program
will save JPG images, knowing this arrangement is the key you need to know.
The free plug-ins available for viewing internet stereo images recognize the
extension and split the image file down the middle sending each half to the
appropriate place for viewing.

A few other bits of information are helpful. Correct adjustment of the
stereo window and vertical alignment of homologous points is important as
use of LCS glasses sets up a viewing circumstance that will amplify errors
and make viewing difficult if it's out of alignment. If you know how to
adjust such things in ordinary programs, you have all you need. If you want
to do it fast and efficiently, get 3DSIF.

BTW, for those of you who have looked at or considered this program, they
recently came out with an updated version that includes some additional
nifty special effects you can apply to your stereo images. This includes
*Black Emphasized, Charcoal, Color Emphasized, Emboss, Oil Paint, and Water
Color.* As you can imagine, the last two options may not work out real well
depending on your image. I found with one very colorful image I experimented
with that significant retinal rivalry showed up in the Oil Paint routine.
But I had that happen using similar filters with stereo pictures in other
programs. It's still a fun effect and would work in some situations just
fine. The other filters seem to work very well and it's a revealing way to
study your stereo image!

The latest update includes the ability to rotate images individually by
small amounts to fix rotation problems.

I don't know of any direct applications specific to the MAC. However using
the basic information above you can always use any standard graphics program
to create JPG images and edit the extension to JPS. Or for viewing, change
it back to JPG from JPS and then it opens easily for editing or viewing.

A basic rule of thumb for JPS images is go easy on the compression!

A couple other things... IE 3.0 and older has trouble with JPS images that
are not put in EMBED tags that specify the MIME type as *image/x-jps*. It is
best that you inform your ISP about your use of this MIME type and ask that
they add it to the accepted types already on their server. This enables
anyone to access the JPS image directly. The embed tag will take care of
that issue in some cases, but if you don't have a plug-in and are using a
Non-Windows computer, trying to download the JPS file itself (bypassing the
link tag) will result in the server sending it as text instead of as a
graphic. (Very extremely irritating!) It costs nothing to tell your ISP
about it. It takes them maybe 15 seconds to update the system and thereafter
everyone can access your JPS images either as presented, or direct as an
image file. Some programs and methods of access don't work well with embed
tags and since I don't like that tag anyway I avoid it's use completely.

I like linking to JPS images from small freeviewable thumbnails. That way I
can have an optimum combination of hi-res image, but a fast loading web
page. Visit my JPS gallery for an example of this technique, which when
matched with a stereo background causes the stereoscopic thumbnails to float
just in front of the background textures. I really like the effect and feel
it can be further exploited by anyone with a bit of creativity.

Larry Berlin

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


------------------------------