P3D stereo cards

[John Slivon <frogs@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Staebler wrote:

>>.. am writing a short thesis on the rise and decline 
>>of the stereograph in popularity as a mass medium.

William Carter replies:

>Not being a collector I have to ask; are the oldest cards easier on >your
>eyes, easier to view for a sustained peroid of time, more "enjoyable" >to
>look at, than those produced closer to the end of their popularity?

My experience indicates that toward the end of the card era there were a lot
of really trashy views out there, mostly half-tones. The early images that
were actual photographs on photographic emulsion are delightful to look at.
Could it be that so called 'improvements' in the production of photographic
images (such as half-toneing), and the consequent loss of image quality, was
the reason for the decline of interest in stereo views? It certainly was
cheaper to produce the half tone images. I know that I won't give a
half-toned image a second glance. Just a thought.

JS


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