An Overview of Anaglyph Technology
Anaglyph technology involve creating imaging that is three
dimensional through the use of two images that are used with the primary
colors of blue and red. The two images are created by placing two
cameras side by side with the lenses about 2.5 inches apart which is the
common distance between human eyes. One image is placed on the left and
utilizes red color lines and is combined with the image on the right
that contains blue color lines.
As a result, the two images are made up of two color layers which are
placed over one another but are slightly offset to one another to
produce an illusion of depth. The human brain processes the red areas as
white and the blue areas as black.
The brain then combines the images together which identifies the
differences in distance between the two images. Red and blue are at the
opposite ends of the light spectrum which allows the brain to process
them as the colors of black and white and thus creates the stereoscopic
effect.
Viewing Anaglyph Images
To view an anaglyph 3D image special eyeglasses are used which
contain one red and one blue lens. The red lens provides a red filter
over the left eye while the right lens creates a blue filter over the
right eye. Once you put the glasses on it takes a short period of time
for your eyes to adjust to view the image and you may experience
blurring or your eyes may cross for a brief second during adjustment.
After a few seconds the image will come into focus and viewing works
horizontally, so if you turn your head from side to side you will mostly
likely experience more depth to the image. Also the image will have
greater depth if you view it in a room that is dark. Since the images
contain two different colored filters the color coded glasses create a
stereoscopic effect and the brain perceives the images as three
dimensional.
There are different grades of glasses that are used to view anaglyph
images that range form the inexpensive cardboard models to Anachrome
glasses. Anachrome glasses are more expensive and of higher grade
quality but are also more effective in viewing anaglyph images.
Brief History of Anaglyph Images
The original method for viewing anaglyph images was accomplished by
using a stereoscopic photo viewer that contained two different image
slides which were fused together similar to the method described above
to produce a single image with a three dimensional effect.
It was not until 1853 when Wilhelm Rollman used blue and red on a black
field to produce three dimensional effects through the use of red and
blue glasses. Five years later in 1858 Joseph D’Alameida started
producing what was called magic lantern slide shows that utilized red
and green filters with the corresponding colors used in viewing glasses.
Louis Ducas du Hauron was the first one to create printed anaglyphs in
the year 1891. The process of printed anaglyphs included producing two
negatives and printing them on the same paper in the form of a
stereoscopic photograph. One image was in blue and the other image in
red which could be viewed with glasses that contained a red lens and a
blue lens.
Increased Use in Anaglyph Technology
Although anaglyph technology has been in existence for quite some time
there has been a recent influx in the use of anaglyph images for a
number of reasons.
§ Internet: The increased use of the Internet as a communication tool
has inspired website designers to create websites with stereoscopic
imaging that can be viewed with 3D viewing glasses due to the use of the
RGB monitor that is installed on computer systems. The current computer
monitor provides the perfect technology for viewing anaglyph images that
utilize the RGB technology which makes use of the colors of red, blue,
and green to create depth.
§ Digital Cameras: The age of the digital camera has made the creation
of anaglyph images a lot easier and it has become more convenient to
load the images into your PC. Digital camera users can create anaglyph
images simply by moving the camera a few inches in between each shot.
The images can then be imported into high tech programs such as Adobe
Photoshop or Corel to easily create the red and blue filters in the
image fields.
§ Blu-ray and CD/DVD: With the inception of blu-ray technology and the
increased use of CDs and DVDs movies that have been produced with
anaglyph technology are reproduced for DVD and Blu-ray which requires 3D
glasses with red and blue lenses.
§ Science: Organizations such as NASA use anaglyph images for spacecraft
imaging, investigation of the solar system, and geological applications.
For example, NASA used anaglyph imaging to determine the texture of the
rocks at the landing site of the Mars Pathfinder. By viewing the rock as
an anaglyph image scientists can better determine the origin of the
rocks.
§ Gaming: Within the last few years the gaming industry has exploded and
with the inception of X-box and other gaming consoles the industry is
pushing for the development of 3D television screens. Meanwhile some of
the recent NVIDIA graphics cards enhance some of the current games with
Stereo Gaming technology.
Although anaglyph technology has a long history and has been around for
a while, it is currently in full force due to new and innovative
technologies that have advanced the use of anaglyph imaging. Technology
developers are already saying that the 3D screen is rapidly emerging and
anaglyph glasses will eventually become a thing of the past.