Message #280

From: Roice Nelson <roice@gravitation3d.com>
Subject: Stereo!
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:33:36 -0500

I just uploaded a new MC5D install. There is now a menu with a couple of
stereo options (cross-eyed/anaglyph), so time to bust out your red/cyan
comic book glasses if you’ve got some (you can get them online at
http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/3d-anaglyph-glasses.html btw). There is also
a new slider that will control the amount of angular difference between the
two images. You can play with this until you find a good effect.

I made it so that stereo would work correctly with the red filter over your
left eye when displaying the puzzle on a white background. If you leave the
background the default black, you’ll need to reverse how you wear your
glasses so the blue filter is over the left eye. I had never known this
until playing with it, but different background colors reverse what gets
filtered out. For white backgrounds, the red filter shows the cyan color,
but for black backgrounds, the red filter shows the red color. I don’t
understand this, but it is true! I bet there is some color theory
explanation or something. If I wear the glasses backward from intended (e.g.
blue over left eye with a white background), often it just looks flat but
sometimes results in trippy necker effects that make it look like the puzzle
is warping in weird ways. I think white backgrounds work better than black,
and I also get a better 3D sensation with less on the screen (2^5 cube with
some faces turned off). I’m attaching some settings that worked well for me
with a 2^5.

It’s sad but anaglyph isn’t usable for solving because it really doesn’t
work well at all with colors (though I’m sure there’s probably some better
way to do it than I am). To get a 3D effect with colors, cross-eyed is
probably better. I’ve never been able to do the cross-eyed stereo though,
and so I’m not even 100% sure I have it presenting/rotating the images the
right way (except for once, I never could do those magic eye things
either). Melinda, if your offer to write a "how to" for cross-eyed viewing
is still on the table, that would be awesome. Also, let me know if I am not
doing it right or if something could make it better. After trying
cross-eyed stuff, I always worry my vision is never going to go back to
normal :)

Have fun,

Roice