P3D Re: miniaturization

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>    (1) When doing crosseyed freeviewing. I've noticed this
>    every time I've done it. I get the stereo effect, but the
>    image is smaller than it was before I crossed my eyes--

You are experiencing the effect of convergence on sense of
depth.  When you cross your eyes, you imitate the process of
looking at something very close and this something is usually
very small.  That's why you perceive  miniaturization.  I don't
think this is a universal experience.  Some people get a very
strong impression... Others don't.

>    (2) When shooting with excessive lens separation, as with
>    an XA2 twin rig. 

This is different.  There are two ways to interpret what you see:
Either you are a giant who has grown to a considerable size so
your eyes are spaced as far apart as the lens separation, OR
you retain your size but the scene has shrunk into a small model 
so you can pick it up and look at it closely.  Most people report
this second effect which essentially is miniaturization of the
scene.  As for me, many times I feel like a giant... It's weird...  
Of course, these interpretations are equivalent and they are both
correct.

Effects (1) and (2) are very different.  In (1) you have recorded
a stereo image and you get a different impression as you change
the viewing method.  You are comparing viewing methods of a given
stereo image.  In (2) you are recording the same scene with two
different ways (normal vs. hyper) and you are using the same viewing
method.  The stereo image is different.

Now, should we talk about stretch and squash? :-)

George Themelis