3dprint manual

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Autostereoscopic 3Dutostereoscopic 3DPhotographyhotography

Introduction

Autostereoscopic Images instantly attract the viewers attention due to

their exceptional appearance.

Our intention was to develop a method that allows anyone to see 3D

without the need for external equipment such as Shutter or Red/CyanGlasses with the additional premise to be accomplished using ordinary

Computer Hardware.

We tried several autostereoscopic methods but none of them was as

convincing when comparing the Results.

For our approach we use a so called Parallax Barrier Method.

That means that we put vertical Bars above the actual Image

(a Parallax Barrier Grid) to generate a 3D Image.

Please read this Manual thoroughly as its Content will help you

to create high quality Autostereoscopic Images.


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Table of Content

I. Required Equipment

II. Technical Background

III. Setup and Installation of the Software

IV. Settings

V. Assembly of 3D Photo

VI. General Advice on Taking 3D Photos

VII. Tilt Cards and other Usage Options

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I. Required Equipment

To create your own 3D Images or Photographs you should have access tothe following material:

Digital Camera or Camcorder (for creating your own Photos)

High Quality Inkjet Printer ( 300dpi+ )

Inkjet Transparencies ( Glasclear )

Be careful as there are also white/greyish transparencies

Thin Plexiglass, Inkjet Tranparencies or a Paper Frame

as Spacer Material

Duct Tape to adjust and fix the printed 3D Images

Internet access to download additional Software

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II. Technical Background

A prerequisite for the perception of a 3D Image or Photo is that each eyegets a unique Image. If that precondition is met your brain will perceive

a 3 dimensional Image.

For our approach we use a so called Parallax Barrier Method.

That means that we put vertical Bars above the Image (a Parallax

Barrier Grid)

Example using two view perspectives (L/R)

Barrier Grid

Plexiglass Spacer Processed Image

Light

Our Picture consists of several Images that are put into vertical slices

printed on an Inkjet Transparency with a regular Inkjet Printer.

Onto that Image we place our spacer. To create a 3D Image another

Transparency with a parallax barrier is put on top. Now we have a

separator that lets us see a unique image per view perspective.

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Let`s use an Example - we have three Source Images:

One Left View, Middle View and Right View

The Software calculates an Interlaced Image that consists of vertical

slices of all three Images. It is even possible to include more photos, so

that you will have additional perspectives, when moving the assembled

3D Image to the left or right side, similar to a hologram.

To view your 3D Photos you need a LightSource from behind to

compensate for the Barrier Grid, or you can put the assembled Image in

front of a Window, which will work the same way.

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The Interlaced Image The Parallax Barrier Image behind Barrier

If you see unevenly spaced lines on printout attempts, as in the picture

above, your printer driver probably does not support the Resolution. This

will result in an unwanted Moire Pattern, or a completely Black Grid.

Remember to always print your 3D Images at the Highest Quality your

Printer is capable of. You may attempt printing on normal Paper before

pringting to Transparencies to preview the Result.

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III. Setup and Installation of the Software

The Software was written as an addon for Gimp. Gimp is an OpenSourceGraphic Software Application. In this way you will obtain a full featured

Graphics Suite. In which you will have a unique and very fast Workflow,

to adjust your Photos and generate your 3D Images in one single

Environment. Even Import and Export into Adobe`s Photoshop File

Format is possible from within Gimp.

Gimp is OpenSource The latest Version can be downloaded from

http://www.gimp.org

Gimp is available for Linux, MacOS and Windows.

1. Goto http://www.gimp.org and Install Gimp

2. Copy the 3D Script File you received via eMail into

Gimp`s Script File Directory. A new directory can be added using

Edit -> Settings -> Folders -> Scripts

Now you can restart Gimp and you should have a new Option in the

Applications File Menu called 3D Parallax Barrier .

Then load your Images from Left (top level layer) to Right side each onto

a single Layer.

Now you`re ready to process the Image.

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IV. Available Settings

Rows per Section:

Here you adjust how many Pixels an Imagesection consists of. It will

also have an impact on the thickness of the Spacer that you need to put

between the two transparencies.

Printer Resolution:

This Option lets you match your Printers DPI Settings, it will also affect

the Size of the Final Image.

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Resize Target Image:

You may want to change the size for your Target image,within this Option you can choose some common format options

Sharpen Source Images:

When enabled an interactive Dialog will appear during processing that

allows you to sharpen the Source Images - in case you did choose a new

Target Size.

You should apply the same Settings to all Layers in your Image.

This option will improve the Image Quality.

Create a Grid Layer:

Creates a Parallax Barrier Grid, that fits your Image and is placed above

the interlaced Image. ( You will need this for most Images ! )

Create Adjustment Frame:

Creates a Small Rectangle so that you can match the Front and Rear

Transparencies exactly.

A perfect alignment of the Barrier grid with the Image is a prerequisite

for a good 3D Photo. You can adjust the distance from your image where

the frame should be drawn as well as its thickness. Some printer will not

print Pixel Lines of one Pixel size in 600dpi mode, even if they should becapable of, in such a case you can adjust it to two Pixels. You may even

adjust the color of the (GridLayer) adjustment frame, and the rear (Image

Layer) Adjustment Frame.

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Create a Cut Mark:

Creates a Frame that can be used to cut out the Image with eg. aScissor

The Image you made from the Left Side must be

placed on top.

Always put the Images in an order from Left to Right

View.

If you look at the Printout from the Rear side and it looks more 3D-like

then you probably messed up the Image Order.

V. Assembly of a 3D Photo

Cut out the Transparencies and either make a spacer with a thin layer of

paper framed around the transparencies, or use plexiglass or any other

transparent material. Set the Spacer thickness regarding the resolution

and amount of images you used. When printing at 300dpi with 5 Images

at a pixel width we use a Spacer thickness of 0.5mm. This results in a

brilliant 3D experience.

Take care that you match the adjustment lines exactly or it won`t work.

We usually take some duct tape and fix two opposite sides losely, match

the lines and then fix it with crystal clear scotch tape or somethingsimilar.

Let us know if you made something for the Gallery.

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VI. General Advice for creating 3D-Photos

Use only horizontal shifted point of views

You may use a Camcorder to capture the Images

Use very small steps max one Interocular distance (~6.3 cm),

Distances further apart as 3cm will have no more positive impact

on depth perception

Using bigger steps will result in a very jumpy Background of your

Image

If you do a Portrait, align all Images at the Center of the Person

(e.g. Nose)

You can Improve the 3D Image Quality, if you cut out the

Background and create a custom Background for your Object

If possible use a tripod, the object must not move during capture

The Spacer material should not be thicker than the Rows per

Section size of all Layers combined

Example:

Rows per Section 2 Pixel

9 SourceImagesPrint with 360 dpi

then: 2px * 9 Img= 18px 360dpi/18px=20dpi

one inch 25,4mm / 20 ~ 1 mm

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VII. Tilt Cards and other Usage Options

Using this Software you can not only Print 3D Images,but also great 2D Animations like Tilt Cards

Simply convert 2 12 Images from an animation series into one

Parallax Interlaced Image, but rotate the Source Images by 90

before processing ( Tilt Card with vertical Barriers)

Images that Change in Color or Flip Color

Same as above

Strange Images, which project different Colors per Eye

Use several Images eg 3 Images with shifted Colors like Andy

Warhol did and put it into one Parallax Image

Moire Images consisting of Black Lines being usually an unwanted

Effect in Printing that can result in some cool Images

Just subtract a Parallax Grid Layer from a Black and White Image.

Create a Negative Image from it and put both images together.

( When you do this with High Quality Settings the Surface will look

like the Image is filled with a fluid. )

You can use an Electroluminescent Panel to create a Backlight,

or simply use a backlighted Photo Frame

.

.

.

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This document is Copyright. No part of this publication may be

reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a

database or retrieval system, without the written permission by the

author

Friedemann Wolpert 2009

[email protected]

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