P3D Re: Converting 2D into Simulated 3D

[Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 
> From: Al Knecht <aknecht@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> .........
> Somewhere I heard of someone taking standard photos and retaking pictures
> with a camera from two differing angles and being able to simulate a 3D
> illusion. Has anyone else heard of this or have reproduced this with good
> results?  I don't see how it could be manually done with cameras, but
> perhaps there is some software that can "morph" one 2d image's elements to
> create a visual effect of appearing to be looking at the subjects in the
> image from differing perspectives-one from the left and one from the right?
> That could conceivably be then used to create a stereo analygraph from the
> "morphed" images. If the software is not yet known to exist, someone should
> develop one. 
> .............


Hi Al,

Yes, 2D pictures can be converted to stereoscopic 3D pictures. It just
takes a lot of work. 

I believe software exists to do this on a large scale, but it isn't for
sale anywhere that I've heard of. 

Several people on this list including myself have made such conversions.
There are a variety of techniques to approach the task, among them being
PhotoShop and layers. Nowadays Paint Shop Pro has layers AND it has JPS
file saving too! Though like PhotoShop, it's selection tools are less
functional than they could be.

It all boils down to a very simple principle. What provides the sense of
stereoscopic depth is the slight horizontal displacement of homologous
features (corner of desk, bright spot, elbow, roof peak, etc., visible
in both images) in the image pair. 

So for example, start with a simple picture containing three large black
dots. Make an identical copy of the image, then select one of the dots
and move it three or four pixels to either side. NOT up or down! Now the
images have stereoscopic depth and the dot you moved will appear either
in front of the others or behind them depending on which way you moved
it, and which way you view the images. (Parallel or crossed)

Complex images take more work but the goal is the same. With layers, you
put elements which are located at different distances on different
layers. Then slide the layers side to side to introduce the amount of
depth you want. The more work you put in, the better the finished
effect.
-- 
Larry Berlin

3D Webscapes
lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://3dzine.simplenet.com
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