Convert 3D version 3.0

Introduction
A description of the menus
3D formats
A single source bitmap
Options
Changes since version 2.0
Final remarks

Introduction

Convert 3D is a converter that converts two 2D images to one 3D image. It can convert to the following three 3D 'standards': anaglyph, crossed view and parallel view. The results can be shown on the screen or written to disk as true colour bitmaps.

As input the converter needs either two windows bitmap files (.BMP) which contain the left and the right image, or one bitmap containing both. The converter can only handle 256 colour and true colour bitmaps.

A description of the menus

File	Open left source...	Selects the bitmap corresponding to the left eye
	Open right source...	Selects the bitmap correspoding to the right eye
	Open left and right sources from a single file...	Used when both sources are in one bitmap. The program goes into a selection mode, further described by the section "A single source bitmap".
	Right position...	Selecting this item will open a dialog where the coordinates (in pixels) of the right image with respect to the left image can be set. This can also be done in anaglyph mode, by moving the mouse while holding the right button down.
	Save as parallel view image... Save as crossed view image... Save as anaglyph...	Saves the results. A brief introduction to these formats, is given in the section "Formats".
	Save left image... Save right image...	Saves the left and the right images. Notice that the saved images might not be the same as the source images, since the position of the right image with respect to the left image is considered and non-overlapping parts are clipped.
	Save all..	Applies all possible save options. Enter in the dialog the basic name, and five files are generated which have this name with different suffixes: an underscore and a letter. The letter P stands for parallel view, C for crossed view, A for anaglyph, L for left image and R for right image.
View	Parallel view Crossed view Anaglyph	Changes the way in which the image is shown.
Library	Select from library...	This option searches in the current directory for bitmap pairs that have the same name, exept for the last letter before the point, which should be an L or an R (corresponding to left and right source images). It then displays tumbnails which result in the selecting of the corresponding images as sources when left clicked on.
	Select directory...	Changes the current directory. A file open dialog appears, and a directory is selected by selecting a file in the directory.
Settings	Options...	Opens a dialog where the program options can be altered. Details can be found in the section Options.
Help	About...	Gives program information

3D formats

A human has two eyes to perceive the third dimension. This is why a left and a right image is needed to construct a 3D image. When the image is viewed, there has to be a method to make sure that the left image is only perceived by the left eye, whilst the right image is only perceived by the right eye. Convert 3D supports three methods, all of which need some action by the human perceiving:

Parallel view In this method the left and the right images are placed respectively left and right to each other. The observer has to look with the left eye to the left image, and with the right eye to the right image. When the image centres are positioned at a distance of 6.5 cm from each other, this means that the viewing directions of the eyes are parallel to each other.
Crossed view In this method the left and the right images are placed respectively right and left to each other. The observer has to look with the left eye to the right image, and with the right eye to the left image. This means that the viewing directions of both eyes cross each other somewhere between the images and the observer.
Anaglyph In this method the grayscale left and the right images are placed over each other, in different colours. The observer needs to wear coloured glasses, where the left glass has the same colour as the left image, and the right glass has the same colour as the right image. The colours have to be chosen such that the right image cannot be seen through the left glass, and likewise the left image cannot be seen through the right class. Popular colour pairs are red/green and red/blue.

A single source bitmap

Often a 3D camera makes one image on which both the left and the right image are visible. The menu option "Open left and right sources from a single file" allows the user to open one bitmap containing both images. The bitmap is shown, and the user can select the left component by clicking left on one corner, and holding the left button pressed while moving to the corner positioned diagonally to it. A rectangle with the colour used for the left image in anaglyph mode is drawn. The right component can be selected by moving the rectangle that has the colour of the right image. This is done by holding down the right button while dragging the mouse. The user should press [ENTER] when the selection is satisfactory.

Options

When selecting "Options..." from the "View" menu, the options dialog is opened. In the table beneath, a brief summary of the options is given:

Left colours and right colours	Allows to set the values for the colour components red, green and blue of the left and right images in anaglyph mode. The values should be integers in [0, 255].
Image size for viewing	Sets the size of the left and right images in the parallel and crossed view modes. When using the parallel view mode, this value should be chosen such that the centres of the left and right image are positioned at a distance of 6.5cm.
Space between pictures	This value determines the space in pixels between the left and the right images in parallel or crossed view mode.
Use POS files	When enabled, the converter generates a file with the extension .POS that contains the position of the right image with respect to the left image. When opening a right image, the converter checks for the existence of a POS file and reads the position of the image when possible.
Lock y position when loaded from a single image	When enabled, the user can only move the right selection rectangle in the single image mode horizontally. This can be useful since very often the left and the right image are at the same height.

Changes since version 2.0

Long filename bug fixed
"Open left and right sources from a single file" added
Possibility to save in a different format than the current viewing mode added
"Save all" added
Possibility to alter the position of the right image using the mouse added

Copyright notice and author information

Convert 3D is written by Bert Greevenbosch for Magic Software Rotterdam.
Convert 3D is freeware. This means that it may be distributed without cost. However, nobody but Bert Greevenbosch is permitted to release a modified version.
Although Convert 3D has been written with much care, neither Bert Greevenbosch nor Magic Software Rotterdam can be held responsible for any harm caused by the use of this program.

If you have any questions or remarks about the converter, 3D photography or the document file, please write to:

Bert Greevenbosch
Roestmos 12
3069 AR Rotterdam
The Netherlands

E-mail: email@bertgreevenbosch.nl

New versions will be released at www.bertgreevenbosch.nl

Parallel view		In this method the left and the right images are placed respectively left and right to each other. The observer has to look with the left eye to the left image, and with the right eye to the right image. When the image centres are positioned at a distance of 6.5 cm from each other, this means that the viewing directions of the eyes are parallel to each other.
Crossed view		In this method the left and the right images are placed respectively right and left to each other. The observer has to look with the left eye to the right image, and with the right eye to the left image. This means that the viewing directions of both eyes cross each other somewhere between the images and the observer.
Anaglyph		In this method the grayscale left and the right images are placed over each other, in different colours. The observer needs to wear coloured glasses, where the left glass has the same colour as the left image, and the right glass has the same colour as the right image. The colours have to be chosen such that the right image cannot be seen through the left glass, and likewise the left image cannot be seen through the right class. Popular colour pairs are red/green and red/blue.