Thanks to binocular vision, when we look at the scene
above from the vantage point of the glasses (top left)
we see a slightly different view in each eye (bottom
left and right). Our brain fuses these images together
(top right), interpreting the differences as stereoscopic
depth.
them. This glass superimposes the reflection of one
screen on top of the other. When viewed through
polarized glasses, the reflected image and its polarization are reversed, each eye sees only one screen,
and we have live 3D video of whatever is being shot.
Editing 3D
Shooting with two cameras creates two individual
video files, which are digitized into the computer for
editing. First, I use the freeware application StereoMovie Maker, developed in Japan by Masuji Suto, to
correct misalignments in my footage, which can
cause eyestrain.
In StereoMovie Maker, I am able to load both the
left and right videos and visually transform, scale,
and rotate them while viewing in 3D with anaglyph
glasses. Anaglyph is the method in which the two
pictures are combined into a single image with one
eye in red and the other in cyan. Primarily used
in printed stereoscopy, anaglyph also provides a
means of viewing depth on any computer screen
using inexpensive red-cyan glasses.
Once satisfied with the alignment, I save my
videos as a single file, formatted side-by-side in a
52 Make: Volume 14
split screen, and twice as wide as a normal video
picture. I prefer this format, as it ensures that the
two views always remain in sync throughout the
editing process. The footage can be cut together in
any standard video editing program. My system is
PC-based, so I use Adobe Premiere, but the same
techniques would apply to a Mac Final Cut Pro system. One thing to take into account when editing 3D
is that drastic depth changes between consecutive
shots can cause eyestrain.
To watch my completed movies in 3D, I use Peter
Wimmer’s excellent Stereoscopic Player program,
a full-featured media player for stereo video files
that converts on-the-fly to the many different
viewing formats required by stereoscopic displays
and projectors. Both Stereoscopic Player and
StereoMovie Maker are Windows-only applications,
but they will run on Intel Macs running Windows.
Showing 3D
In order to show 3D video to audiences, I have a dual-projector setup, just like the 3D theaters of the 1950s,
using two projectors, polarizers, and a silver screen.
The only real difference is that my projectors are small
Illustration by Eric Kurland
