How do we make 3D Videos like those on television?

Perhaps, you remember the 3D films that were shown on television some time ago. You do not need expensive, special cameras to produce similar videos. An ordinary video camera will suffice.

The trick is simple and convenient. Our retinas transmit visual information to our brains at different rates, depending on the level of illumination. Brighter images are transmitted faster, similar to the exposure times of a camera. Partially obscure the vision of one eye with a pair of glasses and pan a scene with the video camera, your brain receives two images at slightly different times. If the speed at which the camera moves is carefully selected, the time delay will correspond to the images take from two viewpoints separated by the distance between our eyes. The film will appear to be three dimensional. The requisite speed depends on the degree of obscuration. You need to play around with it a bit. Use the cardboard glasses that may still be available at some optometrists. They include some measure of color compensation. If they are not available, you can cover the right eye with one lens from a pair of sun glasses. To shoot your first video, mount your camera so that is is aimed out the passenger side window of a car and direct your driver to proceed at walking speed past the chosen scene.

Have fun, experimenting.


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