Where can I get 3D red/cyan anaglyph glasses?

Free 3D red/cyan anaglyph glasses can be obtained from both American Paper Optics, Inc. and Rainbow Symphony, Inc. by sending them a self-addressed, stamped envelope (“SASE”).

Or, make your own 3D glasses using templates and instructions at STEREO and The Paper Project.

You can also purchase 3D glasses from:

• American Paper Optics, Inc. (US)
• Rainbow Symphony, Inc. (US)
• 3Dstereo.com, Inc. (US)
• Assistpoint Limited (UK)
• Enhanced Dimensions (UK)
• TRIVISION 3D (France)
• PROINNOVA (Spain)
• Pixel (Netherlands)

What colors should be over each eye?

For 3D Camera photos, the red filter should cover your left eye, and the cyan (blue/green) filter should cover your right eye.

Why can’t I see the translucent camera overlay?

As of 3D Camera 1.3 and 3D Camera Lite 1.3, the translucent image that overlays the live camera view has been re-enabled. However, to use this feature, you must be running OS 3.1 or newer on your iPhone. To check your OS version, touch Settings on your home screen, then select General, then About, and look for the Version entry.

In the past, this feature was disabled, because Apple stopped approving new or updated apps that used an overlay with the camera view. If you’re interested in the history, you can find more in our blog post.

3D Camera seems to have locked-up. What can I do?

If 3D Camera is no longer responding, follow these steps from Apple’s iPhone: Basic troubleshooting article (or reference this handy visual guide):

1. Press and hold the Home button for at least six seconds, until the application you were using quits.
2. If that doesn’t work, turn iPhone off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
3. If that doesn’t work, reset iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.

How do 3D images work?

Each eye sees the world from a slightly different perspective, and the human brain uses this difference to perceive distance. 3D images use various techniques to mimic the delivery of two different views from slightly different angles, and the brain does the rest.

Here are some good articles for more detail:

• How 3D pictures work on 3DJournal.com
• How 3-D Glasses Work on HowStuffWorks
• How Do 3D Glasses Work? by American Paper Optics, Inc.
• How do 3D glasses work on WhoWhatWhereWhenWhy.com

What is an anaglyph?

An anaglyph is an image that provides a 3D stereoscopic effect when viewed through two-color glasses. For 3D Camera photos, red/cyan anaglyph glasses are used.

Good explanations can be found on Wikipedia’s Anaglyph image and stereoscopy.com’s Anaglyphs.

What is a stereogram?

While stereogram can refer to any image that creates a 3D illusion (including anaglyphs), 3D Camera uses the more traditional definition and creates two side-by-side images in a stereo pair.

For cross-eye and parallel viewing techniques, read Ray Tomes’ 3D Photographs: Anaglyphs, Crosseye and Parallel and the Wikipedia Stereogram article.

What is a wigglegram?

A wigglegram is a pseudo-3D technique that animates two images to give the impression of depth. Read Wikipedia’s Wiggle stereoscopy entry for more information.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each technique?

Anaglyph

• Advantages
  • Easiest 3D to see by beginners
  • Can be viewed at any image size
  • Can be sent to Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail

• Disadvantages
  • Must have red/cyan 3D glasses
  • Because glasses use a color filtering technique, colors may not be satisfactory

Stereogram

• Advantages
  • No need for 3D glasses
  • Support for full color
  • Can be sent to Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail

• Disadvantages
  • Sometimes difficult for beginners to view correctly
  • The left and right images can distract from the combined 3D image

Wigglegram

• Advantages
  • Very easy to see
  • No need for 3D glasses
  • Support for full color
  • Can be sent to Twitter and e-mail

• Disadvantages
  • Not a “true” 3D image
  • Cannot be sent to Facebook
  • Animated images cannot be saved to iPhone Photo Album (though original images can)

Why can’t I send wigglegrams to Facebook?

For wigglegrams to work, they need to be animated. Unfortunately, Facebook currently has built-in support for animated images.

How do I make a good anaglyph or stereogram image?

The easiest way to make good anaglyph and stereogram images is to follow a few simple guidelines:

• Keep the iPhone camera pointed straight ahead and level. In other words, don’t angle the camera between photos. It’s useful to imagine that the iPhone is attached to a rail that slides from side-to-side.
• Normally, the camera should be moved about 6cm or 2.5 inches to match the average interocular distance between human eyes (conveniently, the iPhone is about 2.5 inches wide). For closer objects, move the camera less between photos. For more distant objects, move it more.
• Brighter and well-lit images generally produce the best results.

Ray Tomes has a good post titled How to make 3D pictures, if you’d like more information.

Anything more detailed?

Yes! If you have the time and you’re interested in much more detail:

• 3D Camera Manual
• Principles of stereoscopic photography using an ordinary camera by John Wattie
• 3D Photographs: Anaglyphs, Crosseye and Parallel by Ray Tomes