Today’s Post by Joe Farace
National 3D Day celebrates the art, science, and history of stereoscopic 3D imagery. Every year, in March, on the third day of the third week of the third month, we get to explore the technologies used to create 3D photographs, movies, and art, and celebrate the many ways that these images can be viewed and enjoyed.
We experience the world in three dimensions because we have two eyes that see from slightly different perspectives. These two points of view are combined in our brains, and the differences between what our eyes see are perceived as depth. This is called stereoscopic vision.
Sir Charles Wheatstone created the first 3D drawings in 1838. During the second half of the 19th century, viewing 3D photographs became a popular form of home entertainment. The 20th century saw the invention of 3D movies, comic books, holography, and other ways to view representations of the world in 3D. Recent developments in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality offer new opportunities to create and interact with 3D media.
- Be sure to use #National3DDay on social media.
- Learn about the history of 3D technology including Sir Charles Wheatstone and all the developments since then.
- Explore the science behind 3D. From cinema to 3D printing, art and virtual reality, science offers more ways than ever to delve into the technology of 3-D.
- Share your favorite 3D experiences, whether they are movies, books, or art.
- Visit the National 3D Day website for even more ideas. www.3-DDay.com offers lots of ways to learn about 3D.
How I Made these Photos: (You will need 3D glasses to properly view them.) The now-discontinued Panasonic Lumix 3D1 camera can shoot 12-megapixel 3D photos and lets you produce high-quality images, including traditional “flat” two-dimensional photos. It can shoot at 8 fps (without auto focusing) and 4 fps (with auto focusing) at full resolution. The 3D1 features a 3.5-inch touch screen on the camera’s back that lets you easily move through camera functions and recorded photos and videos.
In 3D mode the Lumix 3D1 captures two images simultaneously: an MPO (Multi Picture Object) three-dimensional file and a standard JPEG. The MPO files can be viewed in 3D on a Panasonic 3D TV but wouldn’t display on my Samsung 3D television. (Sadly that wonderful TV failed and I had to replace it with a 4K TV. Nobody makes a 3D TV any more.) An alternative is to use the wonderful and free StereoPhoto Maker software and convert them into the kind of anaglyphic JPEG files you see here and can be viewed using the classic red/cyan 3D glasses. StereoPhoto Maker is Windows only. If you want to view the images here in 3D, you can pick up red/cyan 3D glasses from many sources including Amazon, who even offers clip-on’s for eyeglass wearers.
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Mark Toal in helping me find and then purchase my Panasonic Lumix 3D1.
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