3D Stereo Magic - How to Make Magic Frames And Stereo “Power Windows”


The 3D Stereo Magic book 8-1/2 X 5-1/2, spiral bound, B&W with color cover, 100 pages

Previous issues of the book included a CD, which has now been replaced by downloadable files. See Note below.

FROM THE AUTHOR, MIKE BEECH:
The purpose of the 3D Stereo Magic (How to Make Magic
Frames and Stereo Power Windows) tutorial is to provide techniques every digital stereographer can use to create image enhancing, eye-popping, jaw-dropping window and stereo effects that make you say, “How’d they do that?”

On a more practical note, special frames can often be used to eliminate window violations in images which otherwise cannot be saved. A very important application applies in the creation of anaglyph images where certain frames can be used to drastically reduce ghosting in many images while, simultaneously, preventing window violations.

To me, the frame of a stereogram is much as the mount is for a gem. Or, better, it is the display case for a prized object. Just as pictures on the wall are enhanced by an attractive frame and tasteful mat, stereograms are enhanced by good frames. Indeed, sometimes the frame can make the difference between the stereo being a failure and being a great success.
Any reasonably full featured image editing software, such as Photoshop, Corel’s Paint shop Pro, Gimp (a freeware), and others can be used to create the effects described.

All procedures are described for Adobe Photoshop CS3, but are known to work in all previous versions down to version 6. Even Photoshop Elements will work. If the process is different in a previous version, that is noted. This is not an instruction manual for the operation of any software, although step-by-step procedures are provided for specific applications when appropriate, particularly for Adobe Photoshop. A level of competency in stereo photography and digital stereo alignment is assumed, so firm understanding of basic concepts is assumed.

Wishing to share that knowledge and pass the torch, it is my sincere hope that the information presented here will give you the renewed interest in stereo photography that it gave to me. If any single concept found here excites you and finds its way into your art, then I am well compensated.
Good luck,
MIKE BEECH

Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
The Virtual Window
Window Violations Eliminated
Real Window vs The Virtual Window
Figure: Angled Picture Frame
Figure: Angled Picture Frame w/ Mat
Figure: Evolution

Chapter 2
Adobe Photoshop Layers Palette
What is the Layers Palette?
Controls
Layers Palette Icons
Figure: Photoshop CS3 Layers Palette

Chapter 3
Combined Stereo Files
Advantages
Example of a Combined File
Figure: Bear Layers palette
Figure: Bear stereogram

Chapter 4
Moving the Virtual Window Forward
Background Control
Using Mats to Control Effects
Minimizing Ghosting Using Zero Offset
Figure: Owl
Figure: Gold Miner

Chapter 5
Using Masks
Masking
Making a Mask
Activating a Mask
Altering Masks
Duplicating Masks
Figure: Layers Palette, Masked Layer

Chapter 6
Extracting a 3D Object
Perfecting the Edges
Blurring and Softening Edges
Magic Wand Extractions

Chapter 7
Think Outside the Window
The Concept
Window Violations Rule Bent,
But Not Broken
Right and Left Edges Penetrated
How the Engine 191 Stereogram was Made
Figure: Attack
Figure: Engine 191
Figure: Warthogs
Figure: Layers palette, Engine 191

Chapter 8
3D Stereo Magic Frames,
Warping Space and Reality
Trompe l’oeil
The Stereo Window Rule Avoided
Bringing the Frame Bottom Forward
Another Rule, Equal Window Widths, is
Banished
Oval or Circle Receding at Right or Left
Oval or Circle Tipped Back or Forward at Top
Curled Picture Frame
Defining the Window Border With an Outline
Pseudo Phantogram
Technique Summarized
Nuts and Bolts
Figure: Bottom of Image Violates
The Stereo Window
Figure: Frame Bent Forward at Bottom
Figure: Clipping Shapes in Place
Figure: Pronghorn
Figure: Dream Machine
Figure: The Hole in Time
Figure: Curled Up at Bottom and Top
Figure: Wolves
Figure: Maus, Pseudo Phantogram
Figure: Eagle
Figure: Peek-A-Boo

Chapter 9
Example Work Flow
My Work Flow, a Summary
Exposure
Building the Work Area
Rename the Layers and Put Them in Sets
Aligning the Images
Window Placement
Cropping and Composition
Adjustments
Frame Manipulations
Save for Web

Chapter 10
Making the Hypercube
Hypercube Described
Create the Work Area
Create the Masks for the Right View
Make the Back of the Cube
Make the Right and Left Sides
The Top and Bottom Masks
Create the Masks for the Left View
Testing the Stereo
Installing the Images
Installing the Image for the Back
Setting the Stereo Window
Installing the Side Images
Extracting the Overlap Area
Installing the Remaining Images
Overlapping the Outside Edge

Chapter 11
Making the “Power Windows” Stereo
Create the Work Canvas
Install the Text
Add Perspective to Text
Organize the Layers
Create the Stereo Effect for the Text
Make the Red Box
Add Perspective to the Box
Create the Stereo Effect for the Red Box
Set the Point of Zero Offset
Clean-Up the Layers
Convert to Either Parallel or Cross-View

Digital 3D Stereo Guide Notice About CD
The Bonus CD is not missing . . . it has been superseded! The Bonus images and information previously provided on CD are now available online. The updated images and action files can be found and downloaded for free at this webpage: http://www.digital3dstereo.com/digstereoguide_dl_images.htm.

This change to electronic delivery allows us to reduce our pollution footprint while simultaneously providing you with additional value and current content. In addition, any revisions or updates to the manual can be posted there in a timely manner. If you still wish to have the CD, please contact me: photosn3d@aol.com. Thank you for your understanding. Mike Beech