P3D Re: howdy

[aifxtony@xxxxxxx (Tony Alderson)]

>1) I've been looking all over the web for info on where I can have film
>developed into the lenticular print format. <

It is possible to do it yourself, but there still will be a substantial
investment in time and materials, and experimentation, to do this. It is
possible to buy the lens material, interlace and print the array, then
laminate the lens and the print. It might prove easier or cheaper to work
out a parallax barrier system, but this is for back-lit transparencies. I'm
getting too hungry to get into details now, and it might be more
appropriate for the technical list (T3D)

>3) I came across a brief mention of something called a 'beamsplitter', a
>gadget to apparently go on the front of a regular 35mm SLR lens, and
>record two images instead of one. Has anyone ever used this, and if so how
>was it ?<

These are mirror devices that divide the frame in half, so you get two
four-perf frames for each pair. It can be used for either prints or slides.
The idea has some appeal, but I think you will find your stereo realist a
better way to make 3D. Beam splitters are limited to only a couple of
apertures--if the aperture is too big, the images will overlap, if too
small you will get a big fuzzy black divider between the frames, which
substantially cuts into your image area. Also, these devices typically
introduce what is called "keystone" distortion; as the viewlines are
effectively toed-in, the frames are not rectangular, but are opposing
trapezoids. This means the points in the corners are not on the same
vertical line, which can be difficult to view, especially if you get too
close to the subject.  And it's easy to knock them out of square with the
camera, which causes even more problems.

To sum up, I've got one and I occasionally use it for things like 3D
postcards, but I'm not fond of it; I get much better results with a stereo
camera.  You might want to learn about slide bar technique if you've got a
SLR.

Gotta get offline

Tony Alderson
aifxtony@xxxxxxx




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