Pixiq

After reading, please have a look at my stereo gallery 1 and gallery 2. 

So, you have shot a stereo pair using your digital camera. Now what?

There are a number of excellent programs for creating a stereo pair that can automate the process. Some can even produce several different versions that can be viewed either as red/cyan anaglyph, a cross-view set or a parallel set.

For me, I feel I have more control when creating a stereo pair by using Photoshop. The process is fairly easy and can produce amazing results.

This process assumes that the glasses used allow the right eye to see the cyan image and the left eye sees the red image. Basically the right eye view is the cyan colored lens and the left eye view is the red colored lens.

To create an anaglyph for viewing with red/cyan glasses, the following technique can be used.

Basically, you should have two images that you shot with a stereo separation representing the right and left eye views. The separation is normally around 65 - 70mm.

Step 1 – Load the two images into Photoshop. I usually start with the bottom layer using the right eye image.

Step 2 – Copy the left image and paste it into the layer above the right image and unlock the bottom layer by option double clicking the bottom layer.

Hint: Most of the time when shooting a stereo pair with a single camera, these layers will have to be aligned vertically. To do so, use the rulers (View > Rulers) and drag out a few horizontal guides to a few different details in one of the layers. In the other layer, with the move tool selected  (V) move the layer to match the horizontal guides.

Step 3 – Double click on the layer to the left of the layer name in the Layer menu. This brings up a dialog box. Uncheck the red channel in the right eye layer.

Step 4 – Double click on the left eye layer and turn off the green and blue channels leaving the red channel checked.

You should now have what looks like an offset double image showing as a red and cyan mix with both red and cyan edges that are slightly offset.

Most of the time when shooting a stereo pair with a single camera, these layers will have to be aligned vertically. To do so, use the rulers (View > Rulers) and drag out a few horizontal guides to a few different details in one of the layers. In the other layer, with the move tool selected  (V) move the layer to match the horizontal guides.

To test your image, put on your red/cyan glasses. Look at the monitor image and see how things look. If you have done it correctly, the images will fuse together and you should see a stereo image. You may find that moving the images further apart or closer together horizontally will make the fusing easier and enhance the stereo effect. Once you are happy with the results, crop the image to eliminate the overlap at the edges of the frame.

Anaglyphs can be viewed as prints or as images on the computer, or on the web. An anaglyph can be viewed at any distance and at any size. You can also zoom into an anaglyph and still experience the stereo effect. 

Have a look at my stereo gallery 1 and gallery 2.