P3D Secret Phantogram Message

[Bruce Springsteen <bsspringsteen@xxxxxxxxx>]

This is a secret message for P3D newbies, stereo beginners, and
persons who are frightened by "highly technical" discussions.  Persons
who do not fit this description, please ignore!!!! 

Dear Children,

A little over a week ago I posted two Very Big Postings to this
maillist on the subject of drawing Phantograms (magic pictures that
look like they stand up in front of you!).  I wrote these messages
because lots of people had told me that they were interested, and I
only get to play on a computer very, very seldom.  So first I warned
everybody that I was thinking about putting my explanation on P3D to
save time, along with a suggestion of what it was about, in case
anyone wanted to stop me.  Also, I didn't know if everyone who asked
for the "secret" was able to read T3D (a scary technical place where
big men smoke cigars and discuss equations - yucky!) but I knew I
would be sure to reach everyone if I "bent" a rule and sent the secret
to P3D.  And I made a little joke to be sure everyone knew that I
didn't mean to be naughty.  I hoped they would read it anyway!

But here's the funny part!  The reason my notes were so very long is
because I wanted YOU to read them!  I went to lots and lots of trouble
to make sure that I explained things in a way that a 13-year old
middle school student is already expected to understand: how an x,y,z
coordinate system works and how to put numbers in an algebra sentence
to get a new number.  I talked about flashlights and shadows and
connecting-the-dots instead of picture planes and projective geometry
and anamorphic distortions, because I wanted the secret to be for
anybody who wants to try it - not just the really smart people who
talk about computer JP-whatsit files and camera lens specs and what
emulsions were like in the "good ol' days" and all the really
technical stuff that confuses and scares me.  (You too?)

Anyway, if you were scared away - come back!  Don't you know I really
wrote it especially for you?  Otherwise it would have been half as
long (or shorter).  Did any of you understand it?  Does anyone want to
try it?  You can tell me secretly.  I love to hear from people who
enjoy new things.
If you missed it I can send you a copy of your own - I promise to
explain the hard parts if you promise to read it and try your best. 
But I don't think there are any hard parts, really.  Some people (even
people who liked it) said it was "technical" and "long" - but I think
they were kidding, or imagining things, or didn't graduate from middle
school.  Nobody asked for more explanation though.  I'm glad Mr. Wier
said it was OK this time.

Anyway, stereoscopy is lots and lots of fun and you don't really need
to have a lot of money for smart cameras and viewers and scanners and
projectors and stuff.  You can just use your brain and a pencil and a
piece of paper sometimes.  Really!  Maybe we can all get together and
start a maillist about it some day!

Love and hugs,
Uncle Bruce.  


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