courses

Commercial stereoscopic displays have re-emerged in the consumer market, and film studios routinely produce live-action and animated 3D content for theatrical release. While primarily enabled by the widespread adoption of digital projection, which allows accurate view synchronization, the underlying 3D display technologies have changed little in the last few decades. Theatrical systems rely on stereoscopic display: projecting a left/right image pair separated by various filters in glasses worn by viewers. In contrast, several LCD manufactures are introducing automultiscopic displays, which allow view-dependent imagery to be perceived without special glasses. 3D display is poised for another resurgence.

This hands-on introduction to 3D display provides attendees with the mathematics, software, and practical details necessary to build their own low-cost stereoscopic displays. An example-driven approach is used throughout. Each new concept is illustrated by a practical 3D display implemented with off-the-shelf parts. First, glasses-bound stereoscopic displays are explained. Detailed plans are provided for attendees to construct their own LCD shutter glasses. Next, unencumbered automultiscopic displays are explained, including step-by-step directions to construct lenticular and parallax-barrier designs using modified LCDs. All the necessary software, including algorithms for rendering and calibration, is provided for each example, so attendees can quickly construct 3D displays for their own educational, amusement, and research purposes.

The course concludes by describing various methods for capturing, rendering, and viewing various multi-view imagery sources. Stereoscopic OpenGL support is reviewed, as well as methods for ray-tracing multi-view imagery with POV-Ray. Techniques for capturing "live-action" light fields are also outlined. Finally, recent developments are summarized and attendees are encouraged to evolve the capabilities of their self-built 3D displays.